by AB-Joel on August 19th, 2003

AB-Joel

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How many octaves can the average person sing? How many for professional singers?

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  • by Jacob Greening on September 9th, 2005

    Jacob Greening

    Cleo Laine is reknowned for having a 4-octave-plus range & on hearing her recordings I would agree. I am a professional singer/voice tutor & have 3 octaves of modal voice and then falsetto reaches about a 5th above the alto mechanism, although I don't count falsetto as part of the sum of my range as they're not "true" notes, although the rocky alto mechanism uses modal tones (although classical circles don't recognise the existence of the male alto mechanism as a genuine register - this is NOT to be confused with falsetto! Think Jon Bon Jovi's higher notes & you're on the right track - not false notes)

    As for whether women or men have bigger ranges, it depends entirely on the individual. I know a man who can hit an F# above Pavarotti's high B in Nessun Dorma in full voice. He is a tenor with a massive alto mechanism, although his bottom register only goes down to an A (textbook tenor floor) - I would use numbers after these notes but everyone seems to use different systems!!!

    But in answer to your question, it is perfectly possible for a human being to have a 4-octave range.

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    • All this talk about octaves has made me hungry for a cookie! You betcha!

      Answers101

      by Answers101 on March 21st, 2006

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