How the test works
- Tap Start the test and allow microphone access. The sound is analyzed on your device: nothing is recorded or sent.
- Go down little by little on an open vowel and hold the lowest note you can sing comfortably. The test only counts a note once you hold it steady for about half a second, so background noise and stray notes won't fool it.
- Repeat going up: rise slowly and hold the highest note you can sing without straining.
- The test compares your lowest and highest notes with the typical ranges of each voice type and shows you the closest match, along with the span of your range in semitones.
Voice types and their ranges
These ranges are approximate and refer to adult voices with some training. Many people sing comfortably in only part of them, and that's fine. C4 is middle C on the piano.
| Voice type | Approximate range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano | C4 to A5 | The highest female voice. |
| Mezzo-soprano | A3 to F5 | The middle female voice. |
| Contralto | F3 to D5 | The lowest female voice. |
| Tenor | C3 to A4 | The highest male voice. |
| Baritone | A2 to F4 | The middle male voice. |
| Bass | E2 to E4 | The lowest male voice. |
Range, tessitura and voice type aren't the same thing
- Range: every note you can reach, from lowest to highest, even if some sound strained.
- Tessitura: the range where you can sing comfortably for a good while, with good tone. It carries the most weight in classifying a voice.
- Voice type: the classification (soprano, tenor, etc.), which combines tessitura with the color of your voice and the points where you change registers.
That's why two people with the same range can have different voice types. This test measures range; to refine the classification, notice where you feel comfortable and repeat the test on different days.
How to find your voice type without a microphone
With a piano, a keyboard or a piano app: play middle C (C4) and sing that note. Go down key by key, singing each note, until you reach the lowest one that sounds clean, then go up to the highest you can hold without tightening your throat. Write both down and compare them with the table. If you want to check that you're singing the exact note, use the tuner: sing and see whether the needle stays in the center.
Tips for taking the test
- Warm up your voice first: a few minutes of sirens or lip trills is enough.
- Find a quiet place and hold the microphone about a hand span from your mouth.
- Sing on an open vowel and hold each note; the test only counts steady notes.
- Don't strain: the note that counts is the one you can sing with a clean sound.
- Repeat the test on another day: your voice changes with fatigue, time of day and hydration.
Common mistakes
- Pushing for extreme notes: if your throat tightens or your voice gets scratchy, that note isn't part of your tessitura, even if the test registers it.
- Classifying yourself by the songs you like: if you're a baritone and you love a tenor's song, you can transpose the song to your key.
- Taking the test without warming up: a cold voice often falls short on the high notes and gives a smaller range than your real one.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between range and tessitura?
Range is everything your voice can reach, from the lowest note to the highest. Tessitura is the zone where you sing comfortably and with your best sound, and it's what matters most in defining your voice type.
Is the test accurate?
It's a guide. Your voice type also depends on its color, its weight and where you change registers. A singing teacher can listen to you and confirm it.
Can my voice type change?
With good technique, your comfortable range usually expands, and in children and teenagers the voice changes as they grow. That's why it's worth repeating the test from time to time instead of boxing yourself in.
Is it suitable for children?
Children's voices are higher and aren't classified the same way as adult voices. For children, it's better to sing in a comfortable range without straining; we explain how in singing for kids.
Does falsetto count?
The test registers any steady note you sing. To compare yourself with the ranges in the table, use as your top note the highest one you can reach in full voice, the one that sounds like your speaking voice; falsetto extends your range, but it doesn't define your voice type. We explain this in chest voice, head voice and falsetto.
What's the difference between soprano and mezzo-soprano?
A soprano sings comfortably in a higher range; a mezzo-soprano, in a middle range, with a darker color. Their ranges overlap a lot, which is why color and comfort matter as much as the extreme notes.