Vocal ranges that go from very low to very high are much coveted in the music industry. In such a very competitive platform, singers whose ranges go from fourth octave or higher could easily stand out from the crowd.

few names that could easily be remembered as those with large ranges are Ariana Grande, Freddie Mercury, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.

But there are also less-known artists that has made it to history's list of the most talented singers.

Ariana Grande, Freddie Mercury, Mariah Carey: List of Singers With the Largest Octave Range in History
(Photo : Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 02: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE) Ariana Grande performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio by AT&T at Banc of California Stadium on June 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

How are Vocal Ranges Measured Among Famous Artists?

To give you an idea of how vocal ranges are measured MusicNotes says the middle C on the piano, also known as the C4 is the starting point. A step below (C3) or above (C5)  counts as one octave.

The more octaves a singer can hit, the larger their vocal range. This means that they could sing songs from very low pitches to high, whistle-like pitches. Among these pop artists who have made it to history are Brendon Urie, and today's Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande. 

Six octaves is generally considered a rarity in the music industry. To be able to sing this, TeenStar Competition says singers need to use various techniques such as whistle register, falsetto, and vocal fry.

Honing these types of skills will need the help of a vocal coach. On the other hand, vocal ranges from 4-5 octaves are still considered as a great accomplishment. In order to achieve this, one needs to learn serious skills and techniques to be able to perform seamlessly.

Read more: Mentor Nicky Spence Explains Why 'Everyone Can be a Singer'

Singers in History With their Respective Vocal Ranges:

  • Adam Lopez- 6 Octaves
  • Rob Halford (Judas Priest)-6 Octaves
  • Dimash Kudaibergen(World's Widest Vocal Range 2019)- 6 Octaves 
  • Mariah Carey- 5 Octaves
  • Paul McCartney- 5 Octaves
  • Whitney Houston- 5 Octaves
  • Brendon Urie (Pan!c at the Disco)-4 Octaves
  • David Bowe- 4 Octaves
  • Ariana Grande- 4 Octaves
  • Christina Aguilera- 4 Octaves
  • Hayley (Paramore)- 4 Octaves
  • Freddie Mercury- 4 Octaves

How Do Artists Show Off their Vocal Range?

There are many ways for artists to show their ability to jump from very low to very high ranges. Some artists do it by writing their own songs that have a very varied shift in ranges.

For others, they utilize ad lib vocal runs to show off their ability to go from low pitches to whistle-like tones that even dolphins would envy, just like the famous Mariah Carey. While voice ranges are generally a huge deal for singers, it's definitely not the defining factor for success.

For instance, artists like Celine Dion and Adele have short ranges, but have rather powerful vocals that made them few of the most successful singers in history.

Related Article: 2020's Top 10 Highest Paid Musicians 

This article is owned by Music Times

Written by Nikki A.

Join the Discussion