The female vocal range runs from about E3 to C6 across the four main female voice types: soprano (C4 to C6), mezzo-soprano (A3 to A5), alto (F3 to F5) and contralto (E3 to D5). No single singer covers all of it. Each voice type sits in its own part of that span, usually about two octaves wide. The chart below shows where each type sits.
Want to place yourself on the chart? Find your exact range first with the free test, then match your lowest and highest notes to the rows above.
What Is the Female Vocal Range?
The female vocal range is every pitch a woman’s voice can sing, from roughly E3 (about 165 Hz) up to C6 (about 1,047 Hz) across the four standard voice types. A few voices go beyond this: coloratura sopranos sing above C6, and some contraltos reach down to D3.
Where a voice sits depends on the length and thickness of the vocal folds, the size of the throat and mouth, and training. That is why two singers with the same top note can still be different voice types.
A common rule of thumb is that untrained singers have a comfortable range of about 1.5 to 2 octaves, and training adds notes at both ends. There is no large study behind an exact “average”, so treat these figures as a guide. Speaking pitch is much lower than singing range: an adult female speaking voice is commonly cited at about 165 to 255 Hz, roughly E3 to B3. You can check your speaking pitch in Hz with a microphone.
The 4 Female Voice Types — Complete Chart
| Voice type | Note range | Frequency (Hz) | Octave span | Timbre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | C4 – C6 | 262 – 1,047 | 2 octaves | Bright, clear, soaring |
| Mezzo-soprano | A3 – A5 | 220 – 880 | 2 octaves | Warm, versatile, balanced |
| Alto | F3 – F5 | 175 – 698 | 2 octaves | Rich, dark, grounded |
| Contralto | E3 – D5 | 165 – 587 | About 1.8 octaves | Deep, heavy, chest-dominant |
These ranges are commonly cited conventions, and sources differ by a note or two. Many classical references give the contralto as roughly F3 to F5 and use “alto” only for the choir part; this chart lists alto (lighter) and contralto (heavier, darker) separately. Range is only half the picture: timbre and comfort matter just as much. For a result rather than a chart, take the female voice type test.
Soprano — The Highest Female Voice (C4 to C6)
Soprano is the highest female voice type. Sopranos sing comfortably from middle C (C4) up to high C (C6), a span of two full octaves, with a bright, clear sound and an easy upper register. In a choir, sopranos carry the top melody line; in opera, they often sing the heroine.
Classical singing splits sopranos into subtypes by weight and agility: coloratura (light and very high), soubrette, lyric, spinto and dramatic (the heaviest). Coloratura sopranos go highest of all; the Queen of the Night’s aria in Mozart’s The Magic Flute reaches F6. Well-known sopranos include Renée Fleming and Kiri Te Kanawa, and in pop Ariana Grande is often described as a soprano.
Is your voice soprano? You are likely a soprano if notes above A4 feel natural, you can reach C5 or higher without strain, and your voice sounds bright and clear throughout. If you are torn between the two ends of the chart, compare alto and soprano side by side.
Mezzo-Soprano — The Versatile Middle Voice (A3 to A5)
Mezzo-soprano sits between soprano and alto. The mezzo range spans A3 to A5, about two octaves, with a warm, full middle register that works in almost every style. Classical mezzos are often grouped as lyric, coloratura or dramatic.
Many female pop and musical theatre singers are described as mezzo-sopranos, even if they are never formally classified. Well-known classical mezzos include Cecilia Bartoli and Joyce DiDonato, and Adele is often described as a mezzo-soprano.
Is your voice mezzo? You are likely a mezzo if you sing comfortably from about A3 to A5, your voice sounds warm and full in the middle register, and the highest soprano notes feel strained while the lowest alto notes feel out of reach.
Alto — The Rich Lower Voice (F3 to F5)
Alto is the lower of the common female voice types, with a dark, warm, earthy quality. The alto range spans F3 to F5, about two octaves, and it sounds fullest in the lower and middle registers. In the SATB choir parts, the alto line sits below the sopranos and supplies the harmony.
In pop writing, “alto” is used loosely for any low female voice. Singers such as Cher, Tracy Chapman and Toni Braxton are often called altos, although most descriptions of their voices use the classical term contralto.
Is your voice alto? You are likely an alto if notes below E4 feel easy and resonant, high soprano notes feel strained, and your voice sounds darker and warmer than most female voices around you. When you know your part, look for songs that suit an alto voice.
Contralto — The Rarest Female Voice (E3 to D5)
Contralto is the lowest and rarest female voice type. On this chart it spans about E3 to D5, slightly lower and narrower than alto, with a powerful chest register and a deep, dark tone. At the extremes, some contraltos reach D3.
A true operatic contralto is rare enough that contralto roles are often sung by mezzo-sopranos. Famous classical contraltos include Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier, and Amy Winehouse is often described as a contralto. For how the deepest female voices compare with male voices, see the lowest vocal ranges.
Female Voice Types Highest to Lowest
- Soprano (C4 – C6): the highest female voice. Coloratura sopranos are the highest of all.
- Mezzo-soprano (A3 – A5): the middle female voice.
- Alto (F3 – F5): the lower female voice and choir part.
- Contralto (E3 – D5): the lowest female voice.
From the top of the soprano range (C6) to the bottom of the contralto range (E3) is more than two and a half octaves. The highest female singing voice is the coloratura soprano, and some singers go further in the whistle register; see how high the highest voices can go.
Most Common and Rarest Female Voice Types
There is no reliable count of how many women have each voice type, so any exact percentage is a guess. Sources also disagree on the most common type: choir and classical sources often name soprano, while many voice teachers say most untrained women sit in the middle, mezzo range. They do agree that contralto is the rarest female voice type, which is why low female parts are often sung by mezzos or altos.
What Your Range Means: Female Note-Span Table
Already know your lowest and highest notes? Find the closest row. It is a starting point, not a verdict: tessitura and tone decide the final type.
| Your range | Span | Closest female voice type |
|---|---|---|
| C4 – C6 | 2 octaves | Soprano |
| G3 – C6 | 2 octaves + 4th | Soprano or mezzo; check where your voice sounds best |
| A3 – A5 | 2 octaves | Mezzo-soprano |
| G3 – G5 | 2 octaves | Mezzo-soprano |
| G3 – E5 | 1 octave + 6th | Mezzo or alto with the top still developing |
| F3 – F5 | 2 octaves | Alto |
| F3 – C5 or F3 – D5 | 1 octave + 5th to 6th | Alto |
| E3 – E5 | 2 octaves | Alto or contralto |
| E3 – C5 | 1 octave + 6th | Contralto |
| C3 – C5 or D3 – D5 | 2 octaves | Contralto (a very low female range) |
| C3 – F5 | 2 octaves + 4th | Contralto or alto with a strong top |
| E3 – C6 or F3 – C6 | 2.5+ octaves | Wide trained range; classify by tessitura |
| C3 – C6 | 3 octaves | Very wide range; classify by tone and comfort, not the extremes |
| G3 – C5 or A3 – C5 | About 1.3 to 1.4 octaves | Typical untrained range; test again after warming up |
A low note only counts if you can sing it with a clear tone, not vocal fry. For single notes: C5 and D5 are high for altos and contraltos but comfortable for most sopranos, F5 and G5 sit near the top of mezzo and alto ranges, and A5 to C6 is soprano territory. For every note one by one, use the note-by-note guide to vocal range notes.
How to Find Your Female Voice Type
The most reliable way to identify your female voice type is to test your full singing range, then find where your voice sits most comfortably. Warm up first.
- Find your lowest comfortable note: sing down as low as you can without your voice cracking or turning to a creak. A live singing note detector tells you which note it is.
- Find your highest comfortable note: slide up until you strain or flip into a thin falsetto. You can also find your highest note with a dedicated test.
- Match your range to the chart above: see which voice type your range falls closest to, or use the note-span table.
- Pay attention to your tessitura: the zone where your voice sounds richest and most natural, not just the extremes. Here is what tessitura means and how to find it.
Prefer to skip the guesswork? Test your vocal range with your microphone: the free test finds your lowest and highest notes and shows which voice type they match.
Female Vocal Range Chart: Average vs Professional
| Voice type | Typical untrained range (approx.) | Trained or professional range |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano | C4 – G5 | C4 – C6 (or higher) |
| Mezzo-soprano | A3 – E5 | A3 – A5 |
| Alto | F3 – C5 | F3 – F5 |
| Contralto | E3 – A4 | E3 – D5 |
The untrained column is a rough teaching guide, not measured data. Narrower ranges are normal before training. For how women’s and men’s ranges compare with the general population, see the average vocal range for women and men.
Which Vocal Range Chart Do You Need?
- Female voices only: you are on it.
- Male voices (tenor, baritone, bass): the male vocal range chart. Each female type sits about an octave above its male counterpart; soprano is C4 to C6, tenor C3 to C5.
- All six voice types on one chart (soprano, mezzo, contralto, tenor, baritone, bass): the complete vocal range chart.
Explore Each Female Voice Type in Detail
- Soprano Vocal Range: the highest female voice, C4 to C6
- Mezzo-Soprano Vocal Range: the versatile middle voice, A3 to A5
- Alto Vocal Range: warm and rich, F3 to F5
- Alto vs Contralto: how the two lowest female voices differ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the female vocal range?
Across all four female voice types, it runs from about E3 (contralto) to C6 (soprano). No individual singer covers the whole span; each voice type uses about two octaves of it.
What is the average female vocal range?
A common rule of thumb is about 1.5 to 2 octaves for an untrained woman, often somewhere between G3 and G5. Training usually widens it. There is no large study that fixes an exact average.
What is the highest female voice type?
Soprano, and within it the coloratura soprano, which can sing above C6. The lowest female voice type is contralto.
What are the 6 main voice types?
Soprano, mezzo-soprano and contralto for female voices, and tenor, baritone and bass for male voices. Alto is the choir name for the lower female part and is often listed with contralto.
How do I know my female voice type?
Measure your lowest and highest comfortable notes, then find where your voice sounds best. Easy notes above C5 suggest soprano, A3 to A5 mezzo, F3 to F5 alto, and a strong, full sound below F3 contralto.