How to Distinguish Between Soprano & Alto
Singing voices are classified into bass, baritone, counter-tenor and tenor for men and alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano for women. Many music teachers reduce these to four basic groups: basses, baritones, altos and sopranos. This historic system of classification places singers into groups that can best accomplish the parts they're asked to perform. If you don't already know whether you're an alto or soprano, you can find out in minutes.
- Piano or recording of keyboard scale
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Instructions
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1
Determine the lowest note you can sing. Play a comfortable note on the piano and sing down the scale until you can no longer sing a note in full voice.
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2
Write this note down.
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3
Sing up the scale from a middle range note, until you no longer can sing comfortably.
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4
Write this note down.
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5
Classify your voice as a soprano if your range extends at least four or five notes above F5.
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6
Classify your voice as an alto if you can't sing that well above F5, like a soprano, but you can go deeper than middle C as far as F3.