Most people have what we call a chest voice range of about 8 to 12 notes that occurs naturally. You are born with it and ,even if you hardly ever sing at all, you already have enough vocal range to sing a lot of songs. The actual range of pitch of your voice on a scale is however unique to you.
If the lowest note you can sing comfortably is say an E or an F below middle C on the piano then you are most likely to be a baritone if you are male or a contralto if you are female. This indicates you probably have a lower range voice. Female sopranos and male tenors have voices that start typically 4 or 5 notes higher on the scale.
It is important for you to understand what type of voice you have because this will determine the key you will need to sing a particular song in. Dont worrry too much if the theory of all this seems confusing. Singing is generally not an exact science because every person’s voice is unique.

All this means is that your vocal range is a relative thing. If you have a low voice, you can still have a vocal range of 2 octaves , just as someone with a high voice. It’s just that your range will start lower and finish lower than the person with the high voice.

Can you extend your vocal range?

Yes you can. Extending your vocal range can be accomplished by developing what we call your “head voice’ . Your voice is naturally divided into 2 registers called chest voice and head voice. To find these voices start by singing the lowest note you can and progress up the scale until you find yourself wanting to change into another more “head” based tone. It’s a strange sensation if you have never tried it. It’s important to project your voice forward onto your lips,so as not to strain your vocal chords.

At some point in this exercise you will find that you cannot sing higher using the voice that seems to come from your chest and you will feel the urge to sing from your “head”. This is the naturally ocurring break between the registers. Your chest voice will sound big and full by comparison to your head voice which can sound light and perhaps harder to control.

Ultimately, your range will increase as your voice responds to regular use . The more you sing, the better you sound.

Here are some ways to improve your vocal range.

Try singing songs that have a wide melodic range. Be careful not to strain to reach the high notes in your chest voice. Use this exercise to place part of the melody into your head register. One of the best and most obvious examples of head register or falcetto as it is sometimes called is the Bee Gees. They actually deliberately developed their head voices to create a new sound for their songs. Other singers like Jeff Buckley and Elton John use head voice in different and sometimes less obvious ways .Women can extend their vocal range in the same way. Using your voice this way can quickly extend and improve your range into head register.

Experiment with singing a song in a lower key than is normal for you. To extend your range downwards you must relax and not force your voice. Dont pitch the song in a key too much lower than usual. Just drop the song 2 or 3 tones in pitch from where you normally sing it. Dont squash or force your chin down on to your neck to reach lower notes. It’s natural to want to do this but it will actually make it harder. Keep your head centered and relaxed at all times. If you are unsure how to transpose a song into a lower key – make friends with a competent musician and tell that person you wish to experiment with the key of the song. As you make use of your lower range more regularly it will develop.

Lastly, consider getting some singing lessons. A vocal teacher will be able to assist in extending your vocal range and also provide you with the necessary tools to improve and find your own unique voice.

Kate Slaney