The alto vocal range is commonly cited as F3 to F5: from the F below middle C to the second F above it, about two octaves (roughly 175 to 698 Hz). Most alto singing sits between G3 and C5, and choir parts rarely ask altos to go above E5. Alto is the lower of the two female parts in a four-part SATB choir. To see where your own voice falls, test your vocal range and compare your notes with the charts below.
Alto Range at a Glance
| Range point | Note | Frequency | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest comfortable note | F3 | 174.6 Hz | The F below middle C; full and resonant for most altos |
| Comfort zone (tessitura) | G3 to C5 | 196 to 523 Hz | Where an alto voice sounds best over a whole song |
| Usual top of choir parts | D5 to E5 | 587 to 659 Hz | Many alto lines stop here |
| Highest comfortable note | F5 | 698.5 Hz | The top of the commonly cited range |
| Stretch notes | E3 or D3 low, G5 high | 147 to 784 Hz | Reachable for some altos, but not the working range |
| Total span | F3 to F5 | about 175 to 698 Hz | Two octaves, 25 notes counting every piano key |
These are conventions, not rules. Reference works differ by a note or two: Britannica describes the choral alto part as roughly F3 to D5, while most voice charts give F3 to F5 for the voice itself. A trained singer’s full range is also often wider than her comfortable range. This site uses F3 to F5 on every chart, including the female voice types chart, so you can compare voice types on the same scale.
What Is an Alto Voice?
An alto is the lower female voice part, sitting below soprano (and below mezzo-soprano when female voices are split into three types). Altos usually have a warm, darker tone and are strongest in the lower and middle register, around G3 to C5.
The word comes from the Italian alto and the Latin altus, meaning “high”. In early church music the contratenor altus was the high line sung above the tenor, originally by men. The name stayed with the part as women and boys took it over, which is why “alto” now means the low female part.
Strictly, alto is a choir part, not a classical voice type. In opera the matching voice type is contralto, and many singers in an alto section are mezzo-sopranos who are comfortable on the lower line. In everyday use, though, “alto” simply means a woman whose voice sits low.
What Notes Are in an Alto’s Range?
Counting every white and black key, F3 to F5 contains 25 notes. These are the landmarks, with how each one usually feels for an alto:
| Note | Where it is | Frequency | How it usually feels for an alto |
|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | F below middle C | 174.6 Hz | Lowest comfortable note; full in chest voice |
| G3 | G below middle C | 196.0 Hz | Start of the comfort zone |
| A3 | A below middle C | 220.0 Hz | Easy and resonant |
| C4 | Middle C | 261.6 Hz | The centre of many alto lines |
| E4 | E above middle C | 329.6 Hz | Easy; a common melody note |
| A4 | A above middle C | 440.0 Hz | Comfortable middle-upper note |
| C5 | C one octave above middle C | 523.3 Hz | Top of the comfort zone |
| D5 | D above C5 | 587.3 Hz | Upper limit of many choir parts |
| E5 | E above C5 | 659.3 Hz | High for most altos; needs good support |
| F5 | F above C5 | 698.5 Hz | Top of the commonly cited range |
Choral parts written for alto rarely go above E5, because that is where many alto voices start to thin. On paper, alto lines are usually written on the treble staff, with the lowest notes on ledger lines below it. In a four-part closed score, alto shares the top staff with soprano and its note stems point down. For the same landmarks across every voice type, see the note-by-note vocal range guide.
Is Alto High or Low?
Alto is low for a female voice, but not low overall. In a four-part SATB choir it is the second-highest part: below soprano, above tenor and bass. The soprano range (commonly C4 to C6) and the alto range overlap for about an octave and a half; the alto range simply sits about a fifth lower at both ends.
So is alto the lowest female voice? In choir terms, yes. In classical voice types the lowest is contralto, and in everyday speech “alto” and “contralto” are often used for the same low female voice.
Alto 1 vs Alto 2
When a choir or an SSAA piece splits the altos, Alto 1 (first alto) sings the higher line and Alto 2 (second alto) the lower one. The exact notes depend on the piece, but Alto 2 lines often stay roughly between F3 and A4 or C5, while Alto 1 lines rarely go below A3 and can climb to E5 or F5. Directors often place brighter, higher voices on Alto 1 and darker, lower voices, including contraltos, on Alto 2. If you are unsure which line suits you, compare your comfortable notes with the SATB choir part ranges.
Can Men Sing Alto?
Yes. Alto is a part, and some men sing it, mostly in falsetto or head voice. A man who sings in the alto range is usually called a countertenor, and some choirs, especially in the Anglican cathedral tradition, still use the term “male alto”. The countertenor range is often given as about E3 to D5 or E5, close to the female alto. Boys whose voices have not yet changed also sing alto parts.
Contralto vs Alto: What’s the Difference?
Contralto is the classical voice type; alto is the choir part. On this site the contralto range is given as E3 to D5, a little lower and heavier than the alto’s F3 to F5, and true contraltos are fairly rare. For the full comparison, tone differences and how to tell which one you are, read alto vs contralto explained.
Alto vs Soprano: Quick Distinction
Soprano is the high female voice (commonly C4 to C6) and alto the low one (F3 to F5). If notes above C5 feel easy and your low notes feel thin, you are more likely a soprano; if your low notes are full and your high notes strain, you are more likely an alto. The soprano vs alto comparison has the side-by-side chart.
Singers Often Described as Altos
Famous singers’ voice types are often debated, because pop singers are not classified the way opera singers are. These singers are commonly described as altos or contraltos:
- Toni Braxton: usually called a contralto, known for a very low, warm register (Toni Braxton’s vocal range).
- Karen Carpenter: often called a contralto, with a comfortable zone that sat low (how low Karen Carpenter sang).
- Tracy Chapman: often described as a contralto, though some class her as a low mezzo-soprano (Tracy Chapman’s low voice).
- Marian Anderson, Nina Simone, Cher and Annie Lennox also appear in most lists of contraltos and low female voices.
Singers such as Adele and Amy Winehouse spend much of their time in the alto zone but are more often classed as mezzo-sopranos or low mezzos. For a longer list, see female singers with low voices.
Songs Suited to Alto Singers
A song suits an alto when its melody stays mostly between G3 and C5 and does not climb far above D5 or E5. If a song you like sits a little high, you do not have to drop it: a pitch changer that lowers a backing track lets you try it two or three semitones down, and the vocal scale finder shows which key you are singing in. For a curated list, see these songs for altos.
How to Know If You’re an Alto
You are likely an alto if:
- Your voice feels strongest around G3 to C5
- You struggle to sing notes above E5 without straining
- Low notes feel natural and resonant rather than airy
- Your speaking voice sits lower than most women you know
- In group singing, you instinctively gravitate to the lower harmony
To check with real notes instead of a feeling:
- Find your lowest and highest comfortable notes with the free online vocal range test.
- If you are not sure which note you are holding, sing it into the singing note detector.
- Check your top notes with the high note test. Touching G5 once does not make you a soprano; what matters is where you can sing for a whole song, your comfortable singing zone (tessitura).
- Take the free voice type test, which compares your range and comfort zone with the standard voice types.
Range alone does not settle your voice type. Tone, where your voice changes register and where it tires all matter, so a voice teacher’s opinion counts for more than any single test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alto the same as contralto?
Not exactly. Alto is the choir part; contralto is the classical voice type for the lowest female voice. Most contraltos sing alto, but many altos are mezzo-sopranos.
What is the alto voice range in Hz?
F3 to F5 is about 175 Hz to 698 Hz, and the G3 to C5 comfort zone is about 196 Hz to 523 Hz. To see the frequency of your own voice, try the voice frequency test.
Is alto a rare voice type?
No. Alto is one of the four standard choir parts, and almost every mixed choir has an alto section. The true classical contralto is the rare one.
Can altos sing high notes?
Yes. Many altos can reach E5, F5 or higher with training, but those notes are usually harder work and thinner than the middle of the range. Songs that stay high for a long time suit sopranos better.
Is alto male or female?
Today alto usually means the lower female voice, but the part is also sung by countertenors (male altos) and by boys whose voices have not changed.
What’s the difference between alto and mezzo-soprano?
Mezzo-soprano sits between soprano and alto, commonly A3 to A5, about a third higher than alto. See alto vs mezzo-soprano for full details.
What key do altos sing in?
There is no single alto key. Any key works if the melody stays within about G3 to C5 for most of the song. If a song feels high, lower it a few semitones until the top notes sit at D5 or below.