Singing Ranges

[JediMusicalSinger]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 1:39pm

Hello, I am new here, and I am aware that many people have posted messages on this topic before, but I never really got my question answered. I was wondering, does anyone know if a tenor in classical music is different than a tenor in musical theater? I was looking up some websites, and it said that a tenor is able to sing up to an A above middle C. However, a while ago, someone posted a message asking what are good tenor songs to audition with. Another person replied, "Empty Chairs And Empty Tables," but they said that the highest note of that song is an F. The person, however, said that it was a song written for tenors. So I was wondering if maybe a tenor in musical theater (who can reach up to an F) is different than a tenor in classical music (who can reach an A). Thanks a lot!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 3:21pm

A tenor, whether he is a classical or musical theater singer, should be able to easily hit an A--that is, by the time he's been properly trained and is vocally mature (say, in his early 20s, although men reach their peak at like, 40 supposedly). However, being able to hit a B will definitely open more doors for you in terms of roles. And if you can hit a C, well, then that's awesome, although you probably won't be asked to do it unless you're singing opera.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 3:23pm

It's not just the higest note..it's where it lies on the voice. Empty has lots of successive E's and F's.

[ikmbway]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 3:30pm

Although Im not answering your question but I just want to say welcome!

[JediMusicalSinger]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 8:18pm

Thank you! It's nice to receive a warm welcome to an online community of Broadway enthusiasts!

[JediMusicalSinger]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 8:21pm

I see. I wish I was a tenor. It's so strange because the musical director at my church told me I have the capabilities of singing as a tenor. However, my beginning voice teacher told me I was a baritone. Now I don't know who to believe. I'm trying to find a third person to tell me what my singing ranges are. Hopefully I'm a tenor. The reason why I want to be a tenor is that it seems that all good male singers are tenors, and that, in general, musical theater (and classical singing, in general) favors tenors over baritones. If you guys notice, almost all male rock singers are tenors. Why? I don't understand. That's why I wish I am a tenor.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/10/05 at 8:56pm

Just because a song's highest note is something doesn't mean it's not for that voice......I thank the lord that not every tenor song has high A's!!!!!!

And as for you getting a tenor range, it can happen with work......I'm trying to really get the high A and B down, but I'll start with the A......any advice for expanding the vocal range!!!!!!

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 5/11/05 at 4:56am

Work as hard as you can on perfecting where the sound is placed, posture, breathing and the position of your upper palate and tongue. Once technique is perfected, you'll find the notes will eventually just be there.

It's also a pchycological thing. If you genuinely believe you can do it, provided it's there, it will come more often than not.

When you hit a high note correctly, ie, G and anything above for tenor/baritenor, you have the most incredible feeling that the note isn't actually being made by you. It should be that effortless.

I wouldn't recommend attempting high Bs and Cs though until at least 18 or 19, and certainly not singing them regularly until the early to mid 20s.

Don't stress over those high notes. Not many people can hit them well without proper training, so don't expect after a year of training to be able to able to do them. The more you stress, the harder it will be.


btw empty chairs goes to a G, not F.

[JediMusicalSinger]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 1:34am

Interesting. I have another question. Is someone considered a tenor if he is able to reach those high notes with his normal chest voice? For example, my voice changes to head voice on an F, so I guess that would make me a baritone. However, I am able to reach an A and B above middle C with my head voice. Will that make me a tenor, or does that A have to be produced with my normal chest voice to be considered a tenor?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 1:49am

Good question. Actually, "chest voice" is a term used only for female singers (most of the time anyway). We men generally have two voices: full voice ("regular" voice), and falsetto, which is probably the "head voice" you're referring to. In the response that I posted previously when I was talking about tenor vocal range, I was referring to the use of the "full" voice. God knows how high a tenor could go using falsetto. But as a baritone, by the time you're an adult, one should be able to hit an F (but preferably a G) in full voice, but would not be expected to go any higher, although there are baritones out there who can hit A's in full voice and I hate those people (just kidding). Most baritones, I imagine, could go up pretty high using falsetto, but a tenor would be able to hit those high notes (A's and B's) in full voice.

However, if I'm guessing correctly, you're still young and are yet to reach vocal maturity (and don't expect to until you're at least 20). Until then, you may not know for sure what voice type you are, as I've known many people who have "crossed over" when they got older.

Hope that helps! Welcome to the board.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 2:17am

My advice is to go to a voice teacher and ignore everything you hear on here. Vocal pedagogues are not posting advice for you. I'm not qualified even though I am a professional singing actor. So get a teacher and he or she will explain how to acheive you vocal goals.

PS You encounter High C's and the like far more often than you would think.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 3:26am

REALLY?!?!

Hah...wow...All this time I have been singing and doing musical theatre professionally (without training though) and i never once would have thought I was a tenor. I can hit an A (albeit only with a GREAT warmup). Hah...that makes me happy. Man, how am I so clueless...and how do I manage to keep getting paid for what I do with being so ignorant of my own profession, Hah. Gotta love this business.

Akiva

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 5:51am

I'm going to second what Jazzysuite82 said. If you're going to sing high, you probably should get training, although i have seen some very good advice on this forum.

[JediMusicalSinger]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 8:09pm

Yeah, you guessed right. Well, I'm 18 (will be 19 next week), so I guess I still have a while before my voice is fully developed. Thanks for the advice!

[tshell88]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:35pm

i don't know akiva, i thought we established that you liked the Ab a lot more than the A :P

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:54pm

Hah...but if I REAAAAALLY try...i can hit it. Hah...i have this summer for sure.

Akiva