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Singing voices and frequencies

Singing voices cover a wide frequency span. However, like musical instruments, they are divided into groups depending on the vocal range. The vocal range is defined by the span between the lowest and the highest fundamental frequency possible to sing by the same singer.

Here are the ranges defined largely as they apply to classical singing:

Soprano

B3 to C6

(247 Hz – 1047 Hz)

Mezzo Soprano

G3 to A5

(196 Hz – 880 Hz)

Alto

G3 to E5

(196 Hz – 659 Hz)

Contra Alto

E3 to F5

(165 Hz to 699 Hz)

Tenor

C3 to B4

(131 Hz – 494 Hz)

Baritone

G2 to G4

(98 Hz – 392 Hz)

Bass

D2 to E4

(73 Hz – 330 Hz)


Every single tone in singing has a frequency spectrum. The vocal cords create a vowel sound. The cavities' resonances above the cords (pharyngeal, oral, nasal) shape the spectrum. These resonances are called formants. 

 

Formants for various vowels. From Brixen, Eddy B.: Audio Metering, 3rd edition, Routledge 2020.

The pitch of a tone can be kept constant, and the vowels can be changed by modulating the cavities.   
Many singers (classical singing) may add a so-called singer formant. This additional resonance is typically around 3 kHz. The effect allows the voice to cut through the sound of the accompanying orchestra. In other genres, like pop/rock, the phenomenon is called a metallic sound, a color added to the neutral voice. 

 

Example of singers formant (dashed line). After Sundberg, J. (1987): The Science of the Singing Voice. Northern Illinois University Press. (p. 123). 

For engineers, it is worth knowing that high-pitch singing may change the sound of vowels if the lower formants of the given vowel are below the pitch of the note being sung. This happens in all genres of singing. 

 

Male singing a vowel: “EH” [ ] in the CVT-mode Overdrive. F1/F2/F3 are plotted against pitch. The dashed line shows the frequency of the pitch (f0). It can be seen that the frequency of the first formant significantly increases with increasing pitch. (From Brixen, Sadolin & Kjelin: Acoustical characteristics of vocal modes in singing. AES Convention 134, Rome, Italy. Preprint 8897).

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