1.

Learn the different vocal ranges. A vocal range is the span from the lowest to highest note that
a voice can make. There are 4 main vocal ranges with several sub-ranges that people can
produce.

 Every person possesses a different vocal range, and while men typically fill out the lower
ranges and women the higher ranges, some people possess an ability to span several ranges.
 The 4 main vocal ranges from highest to lowest are: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
 Sub ranges include: Mezzo-soprano, Contralto, Countertenor, Tenor 1 or Tenor 2, and
Baritone. High tenor is also known as Tenor 1.
2.

2
Find Middle C. Middle C is also referred to as C4 in scientific pitch notation on a music scale.
Middle C will help you find your vocal range since it’s in the middle of the piano or keyboard
and a great starting pitch that most people can sing.

 To locate middle C, look for the name of the piano manufacturer in the center of the piano.
You’ll see a grouping of 5 black keys in the middle separated by 2 white keys. The white
key directly to the left of the 2 black keys in the center of the piano is middle C.
3.

3
Locate your vocal range. You can find your vocal range on a piano, keyboard, or with an app or
computer program by singing along as you go up and down in the notes. To accurately find your
full vocal range it’s best to do some vocal warm ups before you begin to loosen up your vocal
chords.
 Start warming your voice up by humming and allow your pitch to slide up and down freely.
Sing scales on lip trills by pursing your lips and blowing air through them as if you were
blowing bubbles underwater.[1]
 Start at middle C and match the pitch. Then progress downward on the piano hitting each
note and matching its pitch.
 Once you’ve gone as far down as you can and still produce a sound with your voice, make
your way back up and continue matching pitch to notes until you’ve gone as high as
possible while sustaining the note.
 As you go higher up, you will have to sing in head voice and falsetto. Head voice is when
you feel the vibrations in your head as you’re producing sound from higher up in your body.
Think Mickey Mouse when trying to sing in head voice. Head voice marks the break in your
voice, where you can’t smoothly hit a higher note. Falsetto, or “false voice” is when you
feel that nasally pinch in the back of your throat.
 Once you’ve gone as low and high as you can, count how many octaves your voice spans.
Each octave is 8 notes. Start at middle C and count down to the next C, remembering which
is the lowest key you could hit. Repeat with the upper keys. Most people possess a range of
1.5 octaves.
 High Tenor is in the (G♯2-)C♯3-B4(-E5) range.
4.

4
Practice your tenor vocal range. If you naturally sing in the tenor range, you’re well on your
way to singing in high tenor. Locate middle C again and match pitch with an "Ahhhhh" sound.

 Now locate the C an octave below Middle C, followed by the C an octave above Middle C.
Match your voice to each note by going, "Ahhhhh."
 Slowly slide between the notes if you have trouble matching the pitch. Note where your
throat tightens up or where you need to send more air to hit a note. Slide as far as you can
without straining your voice, then back off.
 Typically the highest note for a tenor is around the E5 key.

Advertisement
Part Two of Three:
Expanding Your Vocal RangeEdit
1.

1
Develop your head voice. Your head voice is like a bell. In order to master your head voice, you
have to be able to access the resonance in your nasal cavity and employ your pharynx. The
pharynx is the passageway that connects your nasal cavity to your larynx.[2]

 Start in the middle of your range and produce an “Ng” sound. As you open your mouth into
an “Ahhhh” sound and move up through the scale, really connect to the vibration you feel in
the back of your neck.[3]
 Head voice is a connected sound, as it still involves part of your chest. So, you may not feel
a break in your voice when transitioning from chest voice to head voice.
 To strengthen your head voice, sing an “Ahh” sound starting at the upper middle point in
your range and sliding up until you can’t sing any higher without transitioning into falsetto.
2.

2
Smooth your register break. Register breaks occur when you transition from chest voice to a
higher mode like head voice or falsetto. Breaks can also occur when coming back down, and can
be smoothed out with proper technique and practice.[4]

 You can learn to minimize your break by opening up the throat further through manipulation
of vowels. This means not pronouncing vowels as you would when speaking. Instead, draw
out and round the vowel sounds to keep your larynx stable.
 Many professional singers learn to sing around the break in their voice, so don't feel like it's
something you have to fix, even if you think it sounds awkward.[5]
3.
3
Practice your falsetto voice. Countertenors have the ability to produce a full sound in falsetto,
sometimes allowing the voice to reach soprano levels. Your falsetto doesn’t resonate in your
chest; it resonates in your throat, mouth, and sinus cavities.[6]

 If you’ve ever imitated a female voice, this is similar to falsetto.

 To produce a well-rounded falsetto sound, keep your larynx stable, and picture yourself
closing around the notes, not pushing or straining them outward.
 Start with the lowest note that you can in falsetto and practice scales going up and down
until you can produce a consistent sound.

Advertisement

Part Three of Three:

Singing in High TenorEdit
1.

1
Relax your body, especially your mouth and your shoulder area. They tend to be tensed
when hitting high notes.

 You might be tempted to raise your chin as if you’re reaching for the note, but this will
strain your voice and restrict your vocal cords. Keep your head level.
 Pull your shoulders back and align your spine in a straight line, extending through the crown
of your head.
 To practice the correct posture, lie flat on your back on the floor or stand against a wall.[7]
2.

2
 Start singing in your head voice. It will help you hit the higher notes and it should be very light
sound. Project your voice from your nasal cavities.[8]

 When you sing higher notes your vocal cords get tighter and smaller, like stretching a rubber
band.
 Don’t think about reaching up to hit higher notes. This will cause your voice to strain.
Instead, picture reaching out farther in front of you to grab the notes.

3. 3

Use proper voice placement. To sing high notes without putting tension on your vocal cords,
aim to use forward placement so that the sound hits the roof of your mouth first. To practice,
hum and notice the gentle buzz you feel behind your nose. Press into the buzz to make your
sound louder and higher. Open your mouth and imitate a siren, making sure to feel the sound in
the same place in your head.[9]

 As you sing higher notes, the sound will shift toward your soft palate, but try to keep it
pointed toward your nose.
4.

4
Open the back of your throat. Begin by singing an “Ahh” sound in your chest voice, and move
up the scale. Notice how the pharynx and back of your throat feel when singing in your chest
voice.[10]

 As you ascend the scale, keep your throat open and try not to let your pharynx move up in
your throat.
 You’re still drawing breath from your diaphragm, but you’re not involving your nasal
passages as much as you would when singing in chest voice.
  Pinch your nose and sing. Though higher notes involve your nasal cavity, you’re not singing
out of your nose. Pinch your nose and transition to head voice and falsetto. Work on being
able to produce a consistent sound with your nose blocked.
5.

5
Practice songs that have tenor 1 vocals. The best way to sing in high tenor is to practice
repeatedly. By singing songs that force you to consistently hit higher notes you can begin to train
your voice and expand your range. Consult a vocal coach to help you as well. Some tenor 1
songs are:

 "Alone in The Universe" from Seussical the Musical.

 "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables.
 "The Dentist" from Little Shop of Horrors.
 "Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You" from Jersey Boys.

Tenor voice range (C3–C5) indicated on piano keyboard in green with dot marking middle C (C4)

Main article: Tenor

Baritone voice range (A2–A4) indicated on piano keyboard in green with dot marking middle C (C4)

Main article: Baritone