Jazz singers' vocal ranges
Reported catalog ranges for 48 Jazz singers run from A1 to D7, with a median span of about 2.4 octaves. Singers who phrase like horn players, often in a low, warm middle register.
What sets Jazz singing apart
Jazz singers phrase like instrumentalists: they bend time, reshape the melody, and in scat singing use the voice as a horn. Many work in a low, warm middle register, so contraltos and baritones carry more of this hub than they do in pop.
Blues is the older root, where the line stays closer to speech and improvisation is less central.
How ranges sit in Jazz
- The median reported catalog span across these profiles is 28.5 semitones, 4 semitones narrower than the library median of 32.5.
- Largest reported span here is Rachelle Ferrell (G2–D7); the lowest listed endpoint belongs to Tom Waits at A1 and the highest listed endpoint to Rachelle Ferrell at D7.
- Catalog voice labels here, most common first: contraltos, baritones, mezzo-sopranos, tenors, sopranos, bass-baritone.
Most profiles' figures are commonly cited spans from the catalog, not recordings checked note by note; a few have reviewed or disputed sources. Open a profile for what its sources support.
Where would your voice sit on this chart?
The free range test runs in your browser in about two minutes and reports your lowest and highest notes in the same note names as every bar below.
Every voice on one axis
full voice, up to the cited ceiling above it: falsetto · head · whistle no full-voice ceiling cited whistle register listed
Singers Al Jarreau through Jacob Collier
- Al JarreauG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Amy WinehouseC3–D#5C3–D#52.3 oct
- Andra DayE3–F#5E3–F#52.2 oct
- Anita BakerC#3–C#6C#3–C#63.0 oct
- Audra McDonaldF3–C6F3–C62.6 oct
- Billie HolidayF3–C5F3–C51.6 oct
- Bing CrosbyF2–F4F2–F42.0 oct
- Bobby DarinG2–E5G2–E52.8 oct
- Bobby McFerrinE2–E6E2–E64.0 oct
- Cécile McLorin SalvantF3–A#5F3–A#52.4 oct
- Celia CruzE3–G5E3–G52.3 oct
- Cesária ÉvoraD3–A#4D3–A#41.7 oct
- Dean MartinF2–G4F2–G42.2 oct
- Diana KrallE3–C5E3–C51.7 oct
- Dinah WashingtonD#3–E5D#3–E52.1 oct
- Elis ReginaE3–A#5E3–A#52.5 oct
- Ella FitzgeraldD3–C6D3–C62.8 oct
- Erykah BaduG2–D5G2–D52.6 oct
- Fela KutiF2–A4F2–A42.3 oct
- Fiona AppleC3–A5C3–A52.8 oct
- Frank SinatraG2–A4G2–A42.2 oct
- Gregory PorterF2–G4F2–G42.2 oct
- Harry Connick Jr.E2–A#4E2–A#42.5 oct
- Jacob CollierD2–D6D2–D64.0 oct
Singers Jill Scott through Tony Bennett
- Jill ScottC3–E5C3–E52.3 oct
- Johnny MathisB2–G5B2–G52.7 oct
- Joni MitchellE3–C6E3–C62.7 oct
- Judy GarlandF3–D#5F3–D#51.8 oct
- Julie LondonC#3–C#5C#3–C#52.0 oct
- Kim BurrellE3–D6E3–D62.8 oct
- LaufeyF3–D5F3–D51.8 oct
- Louis ArmstrongF2–G4F2–G42.2 oct
- Mel TorméG2–C5G2–C52.4 oct
- Michael BubléG2–A4G2–A42.2 oct
- Milton NascimentoG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- Miriam MakebaE3–D5E3–D51.8 oct
- Nat King ColeF2–G4F2–G42.2 oct
- Nina SimoneG2–F5G2–F52.8 oct
- Norah JonesF3–C5F3–C51.6 oct
- Peggy LeeD3–A5D3–A52.6 oct
- Rachelle FerrellG2–D7G2–D74.6 oct
- Renée FlemingG3–C6G3–C62.4 oct
- Robbie WilliamsF2–B5F2–B53.5 oct
- Sade AduE3–D5E3–D51.8 oct
- Samara JoyB2–D5B2–D52.3 oct
- Sarah VaughanD#3–C6D#3–C62.8 oct
- Tom WaitsA1–G5A1–G53.8 oct
- Tony BennettA2–A4A2–A42.0 oct