How many octaves has an average voice?

Answer 1

I'm not sure if there is an average, or what it is if there is one, but I think I have a little over 2 octaves. I think my range is G (right below middle C) to C (2 octaves higher than middle C). I can't really sing low...it comes out really soft and quiet.

Answer 2

It does depend on somethings, middle school aged children, from about 10-15 will have a smaller range because of puberty, but the average is between 3 and 3 1/2 octaves. Some voices will go all the way to 4 octaves, but those are rare- and if it ever goes beyond 4 octaves, it's usually for impractical notes- like guys who sing far lower than any song will ever go or girls who sing crazy high where it only sounds like sweaks.

So I'd expect 3 1/2 octaves to be a good, normal range. But... remember, it's not the range that a person has that's important, it's the particular notes that they can sing, particularly the high notes. Almost always, the thing that keeps you from singing your favorate song isn't how low it goes, but how high- so still work on that.

Answer 3

Consider the Star-Spangled Banner. It's notoriously difficult to sing for the average person because of the large range, but it's only and octave plus a fifth (just a bit more than 1 1/2 octaves.) You might be able to go high by singing in head voice (aka falsetto) but for "real" singing, most people have quite a limited range. The people who say they have 3 1/2 octaves are full of baloney.

Answer 4

Theres no such thing as an actual average voice but the common singer usually has at least 3 octaves....I have about 4 1/2, Im not sure anymore because some days I can get higher than the other, but Im a Soprano one soooo

Answer 5

I have 3 1/2 octaves in my range. I could stretch it to four, but that might strain my voice. That's not a good thing. I'd say 3 to 3 1/2 is average. I've been in choral music for four years.

Answer 6

There is no such thing as the average voice. I have sung since I was 7 and I am now 13. I have 3 and a half octaves in my vocal range.

Answer 7

This is something that drives me to distraction.

First, you only count notes that you can actually sing in a theatre. If you can sing a note that can't be heard by the people in the first row of seats, that doesn't count.

In order to make it as a professional Opera Singer you have to have a full 2 Octave range as noted here are the major divisions:
Bass from E or F just below the bass clef to F above middle C
Baritone from Ab on the first space of the bass clef to Ab above Middle C
Tenors from the C below Middle C to High C (the C above Middle C)
Contraltos (very rare voice) from F below Middle C to G above high C
Mezzo Sopranos from A or G below Middle C to Bb above high C
Sopranos from Middle C to D or Eb one octave above high C
Coloraturas from E or F above Middle C to F one octave above high C

If you take the Basses F below Low C and the Coloraturas F one octave above that is a total of 4 Octaves. From the F to the F below Middle C is one Octave. From the F below Middle C to the F above Middle C is two octaves. From the F above middle C to the F above high C is 3 octaves from the F above high C to the F one octave higher is a total of 4 octaves.

Anyone claiming to be able to sing more that a total of 2 1/2 Octaves is extremely rare and are usually only women as they can use the head voice a whistle tones that men cannot use.

Most very well-trained singers will have 2 octaves of audible and useable range.

Answer 8

I don't know much about singing but the answer to that shouldn't be 4? Like the middle of the scale. (octave is the eight part). Ok forget it. I'm just beeing foolish.

Answer 9

the conventional knowledgeable singer will fall right into a a million.5 to 2.5 octave selection. That selection on my own ought to place a singer into 3 diverse vocal ranges, observing the form of music they are appearing.

Answer 10

i have four octaves in my range of voice, but people tell me i can sing really high and others tell me i sing really low, so i guess my range is wider than most peoples. it all depends, though... i don't think you can label anything as an "average voice".