Nina Simone

What is Nina Simone’s vocal range?

Nina Simone's vocal range is commonly cited as G2 to F5 — about 2.8 octaves, or 34 semitones, and is usually classified as contralto.

Contralto with an unusually deep floor; speech-into-song delivery, pianist's sense of time. That cited span is wider than 58% of the 357 voices in this library.

Signature song

Feeling Good

Reading the numbers

• ·G2 is a deep floor for a contralto — lower than all but 1 of the 30 contraltos here.
• ·That floor is a full 10 semitones beneath where a contralto's range conventionally starts (F3).
• ·1 other voice here carries the identical cited range — at the resolution these figures are quoted in, those voices are indistinguishable on the chart.
• ·No separate full-voice ceiling is cited, so the figures describe a range worked largely in full voice across its 34 semitones.
• ·Ranked by bottom note, it is the 111th lowest of the 357 voices here; by top note, the 195th highest.

Commonly cited figures, not lab measurements — extreme notes are one-off recorded moments, not the singer’s everyday range.

• Cesária ÉvoraContraltoD3–A#4
• Grace JonesContraltoD3–A#4
• ANOHNIContraltoA2–F5
• CherContraltoF2–A5
• Tina TurnerContraltoG2–D#5
• Amy WinehouseContraltoC3–D#5