Voice type · 5 of 6
The mezzo-soprano voice
The mezzo-soprano is the middle women's voice, between alto and soprano, with a usual range from A3 to F5. It sounds warm and full through the middle, and in a choir it sings Soprano 2 or Alto 1.
- Usual range
- A3 to F5
- Choir part
- Soprano 2 or Alto 1
Hear the range
A3 to F5The mezzo-soprano range
A mezzo's usual range runs from A3, the A below middle C, to F5, the F an octave and a fourth above middle C. Mezzo is Italian for "middle" or "half": the voice sits between alto and soprano and shares most of its notes with both.
Many mezzos are most at home from about C4 to D5, with a rich lower middle. Trained mezzos often sing up to A5 or beyond, and many have a few notes below A3.
Am I a mezzo-soprano, a soprano or an alto?
Against a soprano, look at the top. Many sopranos sing around F5 to A5 with ease; a mezzo can often reach those notes but tires if a song stays there, and often feels the voice change gear a note or two lower. Against an alto, look at the bottom: an alto's notes around F3 to A3 come out full, where a mezzo's are lighter.
Colour is the other clue: a mezzo sounds warmer and darker than a soprano, but lighter than an alto. Many voices sit right on these lines, and that's fine. The vocal range test gives a first guess, and singing both choir parts will tell you more.
Singing mezzo-soprano in a choir
Choirs have no mezzo part, so a mezzo sings Soprano 2 or Alto 1: the lower soprano line or the higher alto line when those parts split. In plain four-part music, a mezzo joins whichever section needs voices, often alto for a lower mezzo and soprano for a higher one.
Soprano 2 sings a harmony just under the tune, and Alto 1 sits above the low alto notes, so a mezzo often sings the notes in the middle of the chord. Much of the middle of the chord sits near the change of gear a few notes above middle C, so keep it light there and let the sound mix, rather than pushing your chest voice up.
The six voice types
Where mezzo-soprano sits
Song parts in this range
Song parts to start with
Each stays inside the usual mezzo-soprano 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.
- Every course free
- Open source
- No ads, no tracking
Questions
About mezzo-sopranos
What is the mezzo-soprano range?
The usual mezzo-soprano range is A3 to F5, from the A below middle C to the F an octave and a fourth above it. Trained mezzos often go higher, and every voice is a little different.
Should a mezzo sing soprano or alto in a choir?
It depends on your colour as much as your range: a mezzo usually sings Soprano 2 or Alto 1. A brighter, lighter mezzo often blends best with the sopranos, a warmer, darker one with the altos. Try both, and let the director hear you.
Is a mezzo-soprano higher than an alto?
Yes, a little: the mezzo's usual range, A3 to F5, sits a few notes above the alto's F3 to D5. Most of the notes are shared, so comfort and colour tell them apart more than range does.
Can a mezzo sing soprano songs?
Many fit as written, because soprano songs often sit in the middle and only touch the top. When the high notes linger, sing it a step or two lower: the tune stays the same. Keep the top light rather than pushing for it.
More free tools
No account, no ads. Each one keeps working offline once you've opened it.
See all 17 tools