Voice type · 4 of 6
The alto voice
An alto is the lowest of the usual women's voices, singing the harmony just below the tune, with a usual range from F3 to D5. It sounds rich and warm low down, and in a choir it sings the Alto part.
- Usual range
- F3 to D5
- Choir part
- Alto
- Neighbours
- Mezzo
Hear the range
F3 to D5The alto range
An alto's usual range runs from F3, the F below middle C, to D5, the D just over an octave above middle C. Most altos are at home from about A3 to A4, with a strong, full sound around and below middle C, where higher voices lose power.
In classical singing, the lowest women's voice is called contralto, and alto is the name of the choir part. Everyday speech mixes the two, and an alto in a choir may be a contralto or a mezzo-soprano. Trained altos often sing a few notes beyond either end of this range.
Am I an alto or a mezzo-soprano?
The two ranges share everything from A3 to D5, so look at comfort and colour. An alto's low notes, around F3 to A3, come out full and easy; a mezzo can usually reach them, but with less weight. At the top, an alto starts to tire around C5 or D5, where a mezzo often still feels free up to E5 or F5.
Most women's voices change gear from chest voice to a lighter head voice somewhere a few notes above middle C, and altos often keep a strong chest voice a little higher. Colour is the last clue: an alto sounds darker and richer. If you sit between, Alto 1 in a split choir may suit you, and the vocal range test gives a first guess.
Singing alto in a choir
The alto part sits just below the soprano tune and fills in the middle of the chord. It often moves in small steps and repeats notes, and choir alto parts mostly sit from about G3 to C5. Sing the lower notes in a relaxed chest voice and lighten as you go up, so the change of gear above middle C stays smooth.
Holding a harmony while the tune sounds just above you is the alto's real skill, and it takes practice. Learn the part on its own first, then sing it against the tune. On Stackapella you can sing your part while hearing the others, then record it and hear how it fits.
The six voice types
Where alto sits
Song parts in this range
Alto parts to start with
Each stays inside the usual alto range, so it's a good place to start. Open one to hear it and learn it.
Free tools by Stackapella
All of these are free, and so is every course.
Stackapella teaches you to sing harmony one part at a time, right in your browser.
- A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
- Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
- Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
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Questions
About altos
Am I an alto or a soprano?
Look at where your voice is happiest, not only at your top note. If about F3 to D5 feels at home for a whole song and the soprano's high notes, up toward A5, tire you, alto is the likely fit. If you can sing high and light all evening, try soprano; a mezzo-soprano sits between the two and often sings Alto 1.
What is the difference between alto and contralto?
Contralto is the classical name for the lowest women's voice type, and alto is the choir part, sung by contraltos and many mezzo-sopranos. In everyday speech the two words are often used for the same voice.
Can a man sing alto?
Yes. A man singing alto, called a countertenor or male alto, sings mostly in head voice or falsetto, and many church and cathedral choirs have them in the alto section.
What is the highest note an alto can sing?
The usual alto range tops out at D5, the D just over an octave above middle C. Many altos can sing higher, especially in head voice, but choir alto parts seldom go above C5 or D5.
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