What is the range of a countertenor voice?

A countertenor is a male singer who can sing as high as a soprano or mezzo-soprano. The countertenor is the rarest of all voice types.

Is countertenor higher than tenor?

countertenor, also spelled Contra Tenor, in music, adult male alto voice, either natural or falsetto. In England the word generally refers to a falsetto alto rather than a high tenor. Some writers reserve the term countertenor for a naturally produced voice, terming the falsetto voice a male alto.

How high can tenors sing?

The tenor’s vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is widely defined to be B2, though some roles include an A♭2 (two A♭s below middle C). At the highest extreme, some tenors can sing up to the second F above middle C (F5).

What is the range of a countertenor?

The range that I sing is probably a couple of octaves – from the G below middle C to the G two octaves above that. And there are some countertenors who may sing a whole fourth higher than that. They may be happy around a middle C but not too much below and they may go up to a top C.

How high can a countertenor sing?

And there are some countertenors who may sing a whole fourth higher than that. They may be happy around a middle C but not too much below and they may go up to a top C. So in comparison to another voice type, it’s the equivalent of a female singer who sings mezzo-soprano or contralto.

Can countertenors have high notes?

Although there are some countertenors who do have the high notes in their ‘normal’ voice they’re incredibly rare! To falsetto or not to falsetto… This is a hairy issue for countertenors, those who encourage countertenors, and those for whom the whole concept of a man singing high is a crime against nature.

Why do people consider a countertenor to be a high voice?

Because people when they hear falsetto – when they hear a countertenor – they think of it as a high voice. Actually, I count myself as what we’d class an alto in a woman. The range that I sing is probably a couple of octaves – from the G below middle C to the G two octaves above that.