Voice type
Famous tenors
Cited ranges on one keyboard — the highest standard male category, and the default voice of recorded popular music.
Median span
3.0 oct
Conventional band
C3–C5
Share of library
35%
of the library
What a tenor is
Tenor is by far the largest group in this library, partly because the category is genuinely common and partly because the last seventy years of popular songwriting has been pitched for it. The interest in a tenor is usually not the top note but the transition — how a singer negotiates the passage out of chest voice around D4 to G4.
Because so much repertoire sits right at that transition, tenors carry the most audible strain when they are singing tired or in the wrong key.
What the tenors here show
- Widest cited span: Dimash Kudaibergen at C2–C8 (6.0 octaves); narrowest is Luis Fonsi at E3–A4.
- The group bottoms out at F1 (Axl Rose) and tops out at C8 (Dimash Kudaibergen) — 79 semitones from the floor of the category to its ceiling.
- Prominence spans 1902 to 2023, and the median cited span is 36 semitones against C3–C5 for the conventional tenor band.
Voice categories are guides borrowed from choral and operatic practice, not boxes. Plenty of these singers are filed differently by different sources, and a category says more about where a voice is comfortable than about the notes it can reach.
Every tenor on one axis
low → high
Singers Aaron Neville through Bobby Hatfield
- Aaron NevilleG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- Aaron TveitA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Adam LambertF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
- Adam LevineA2–C6A2–C63.3 oct
- AkonC3–A#4C3–A#41.8 oct
- Al GreenF2–A#5F2–A#53.4 oct
- Al JarreauG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Alex TurnerE2–G5E2–G53.3 oct
- Anderson .PaakC3–F5C3–F52.4 oct
- Andrea BocelliC3–B4C3–B41.9 oct
- Arijit SinghC3–C5C3–C52.0 oct
- Axl RoseF1–A#6F1–A#65.4 oct
- BaekhyunF2–E5F2–E52.9 oct
- Barry GibbF2–D6F2–D63.8 oct
- Barry ManilowD2–G5D2–G53.4 oct
- BeBe WinansA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- Ben PlattA2–F5A2–F52.7 oct
- Benson BooneG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Billie Joe ArmstrongF2–C5F2–C52.6 oct
- Billy CorganF2–E5F2–E52.9 oct
- Billy JoelF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
- Bob DylanE2–A4E2–A42.4 oct
- Bob MarleyF2–C5F2–C52.6 oct
- Bobby HatfieldB2–D#6B2–D#63.3 oct
Singers Bono through Chino Moreno
- BonoD#2–C#5D#2–C#52.8 oct
- Boy GeorgeD2–A5D2–A53.6 oct
- Brad DelpG#2–D6G#2–D63.5 oct
- Brandon BoydF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
- Brandon FlowersF#2–G#5F#2–G#53.2 oct
- Brendon UrieE2–C6E2–C63.7 oct
- Brian JohnsonA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- Brian McKnightA2–A#5A2–A#53.1 oct
- Brian WilsonC2–A#5C2–A#53.8 oct
- Bruce DickinsonE2–C6E2–C63.7 oct
- Bruno MarsG2–D6G2–D63.6 oct
- Bryan AdamsD#2–E6D#2–E64.1 oct
- Bryson TillerA2–C6A2–C63.3 oct
- Caetano VelosoA2–C5A2–C52.3 oct
- Caleb FollowillA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- Calum ScottB3–C#6B3–C#62.2 oct
- Camilo SestoA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- CeeLo GreenA#1–C6A#1–C64.2 oct
- Charles AznavourD3–B4D3–B41.8 oct
- Charlie PuthG2–C6G2–C63.4 oct
- ChenG2–F5G2–F52.8 oct
- Chester BenningtonG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Childish GambinoA#1–C6A#1–C64.2 oct
- Chino MorenoF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
Singers Chris Brown through Elton John
- Chris BrownC3–G#5C3–G#52.7 oct
- Chris CornellE2–A5E2–A53.4 oct
- Chris MartinD2–C6D2–C63.8 oct
- Chris TomlinA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Christopher CrossD3–A#4D3–A#41.7 oct
- Colm WilkinsonG2–C5G2–C52.4 oct
- Conan GrayC3–G5C3–G52.6 oct
- Cristian CastroG2–C6G2–C63.4 oct
- Curtis MayfieldG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- D.O.F2–F#5F2–F#53.1 oct
- D'AngeloG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- Daniel CaesarC#3–F#5C#3–F#52.4 oct
- Daryl HallE2–C6E2–C63.7 oct
- David PhelpsE2–D5E2–D52.8 oct
- David RuffinA2–E6A2–E63.6 oct
- Dennis BrownG2–D5G2–D52.6 oct
- Dennis DeYoungE2–A5E2–A53.4 oct
- Devin TownsendF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
- Dimash KudaibergenC2–C8C2–C86.0 oct
- Don HenleyF#2–D#5F#2–D#52.8 oct
- Donnie McClurkinB2–E5B2–E52.4 oct
- Donny HathawayF2–C5F2–C52.6 oct
- Ed SheeranG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Elton JohnF2–F5F2–F53.0 oct
Singers Enrico Caruso through John Denver
- Enrico CarusoB2–A#4B2–A#41.9 oct
- Enrique IglesiasC#3–G#4C#3–G#41.6 oct
- Frank OceanC#2–G5C#2–G53.5 oct
- Frankie ValliA2–C6A2–C63.3 oct
- Geddy LeeF2–A#5F2–A#53.4 oct
- Geoff TateE2–C6E2–C63.7 oct
- Gerard WayF#2–F#5F#2–F#53.0 oct
- Glen CampbellF2–A4F2–A42.3 oct
- Hank WilliamsA2–A4A2–A42.0 oct
- Hua ChenyuG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- Ian GillanG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- Jack WhiteE2–A6E2–A64.4 oct
- Jackie WilsonA2–C#6A2–C#63.3 oct
- James BayG2–C6G2–C63.4 oct
- James BlakeF2–F5F2–F53.0 oct
- Jason DeruloA2–A#5A2–A#53.1 oct
- Jason MrazF2–A#5F2–A#53.4 oct
- Jeff BuckleyE2–D6E2–D63.8 oct
- Jeremy JordanA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- JiminA2–F5A2–F52.7 oct
- Jimmy CliffF2–C5F2–C52.6 oct
- JinA#2–B5A#2–B53.1 oct
- JJ LinG2–G5G2–G53.0 oct
- John DenverG2–B5G2–B53.3 oct
Singers John Legend through Kevin Cronin
- John LegendE2–A#5E2–A#53.5 oct
- John LennonG2–D5G2–D52.6 oct
- Johnny MathisB2–G5B2–G52.7 oct
- Jon AndersonC#3–F#5C#3–F#52.4 oct
- Jon Bon JoviE2–D5E2–D52.8 oct
- Jonas KaufmannB2–C5B2–C52.1 oct
- Jonathan GroffA2–C5A2–C52.3 oct
- JonghoA2–D6A2–D63.4 oct
- JonghyunF2–E5F2–E52.9 oct
- José CarrerasC3–C5C3–C52.0 oct
- José JoséA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Josh KiszkaC3–C#6C3–C#63.1 oct
- Juan Diego FlórezC3–E5C3–E52.3 oct
- Juan GabrielA2–C5A2–C52.3 oct
- JungkookF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
- Justin BieberA2–A#5A2–A#53.1 oct
- Justin TimberlakeA2–C6A2–C63.3 oct
- Justin VernonF2–F5F2–F53.0 oct
- JVKEC4–F6C4–F62.4 oct
- Keith UrbanF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
- Kellin QuinnB2–A5B2–A52.8 oct
- Kenny ChesneyD#2–F#4D#2–F#42.3 oct
- Kenny LogginsD2–C#6D2–C#63.9 oct
- Kevin CroninG2–A4G2–A42.2 oct
Singers Klaus Meine through Michael Kiske
- Klaus MeineG2–C6G2–C63.4 oct
- Lenny KravitzA2–A#5A2–A#53.1 oct
- Leon BridgesB2–G4B2–G41.7 oct
- Lionel RichieF2–G5F2–G53.2 oct
- Little RichardF2–A#5F2–A#53.4 oct
- Lou GrammB1–A5B1–A53.8 oct
- Louis TomlinsonC3–A4C3–A41.8 oct
- Luciano PavarottiC3–C5C3–C52.0 oct
- Luis FonsiE3–A4E3–A41.4 oct
- Luis MiguelA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Luther VandrossB2–A5B2–A52.8 oct
- Marc AnthonyA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- Mario LanzaC3–C5C3–C52.0 oct
- Marvin GayeF2–A#5F2–A#53.4 oct
- Marvin WinansA2–F5A2–F52.7 oct
- Matt BellamyE2–D6E2–D63.8 oct
- Matty HealyF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
- MaxwellA2–C6A2–C63.3 oct
- Maynard James KeenanF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
- Meat LoafF2–D#6F2–D#63.8 oct
- Mel TorméG2–C5G2–C52.4 oct
- Michael CrawfordA2–A#4A2–A#42.1 oct
- Michael JacksonD#2–F6D#2–F64.2 oct
- Michael KiskeF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
Singers Michael W. Smith through Peso Pluma
- Michael W. SmithA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Mick JaggerF2–F5F2–F53.0 oct
- MiguelC3–A#5C3–A#52.8 oct
- MikaF#2–G#5F#2–G#53.2 oct
- Milton NascimentoG2–A#5G2–A#53.3 oct
- Morten HarketA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- Musiq SoulchildC3–F#5C3–F#52.5 oct
- Myles KennedyA#1–D6A#1–D64.3 oct
- Myles SmithB2–G4B2–G41.7 oct
- Nate RuessG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Ne-YoD#2–A5D#2–A53.5 oct
- Neil YoungG2–C5G2–C52.4 oct
- Niall HoranF#2–B5F#2–B53.4 oct
- Noah KahanB2–G#4B2–G#41.8 oct
- Oli SykesD#2–G#5D#2–G#53.4 oct
- Omar ApolloC3–F#5C3–F#52.5 oct
- OzunaF#2–C5F#2–C52.5 oct
- Ozzy OsbourneG2–D5G2–D52.6 oct
- Park Hyo ShinF2–E5F2–E52.9 oct
- PassengerD#2–A4D#2–A42.5 oct
- Patrick StumpC3–B5C3–B52.9 oct
- Paul McCartneyF2–E5F2–E52.9 oct
- Paul SimonA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Peso PlumaB2–F#4B2–F#41.6 oct
Singers Pharrell Williams through Sammy Hagar
- Pharrell WilliamsD#2–A#5D#2–A#53.6 oct
- Phil CollinsF2–C#5F2–C#52.7 oct
- Plácido DomingoA2–C5A2–C52.3 oct
- PrinceE2–B5E2–B53.6 oct
- Ramin KarimlooG2–C5G2–C52.4 oct
- Ray CharlesC2–A#5C2–A#53.8 oct
- RemaC#3–E5C#3–E52.3 oct
- Ricky MartinB2–C5B2–C52.1 oct
- Rivers CuomoD#2–G5D#2–G53.3 oct
- Rob HalfordF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
- Robbie WilliamsF2–B5F2–B53.5 oct
- Robert PlantF2–A5F2–A53.3 oct
- Robert SmithC#3–C5C#3–C51.9 oct
- Rod StewartE2–C5E2–C52.7 oct
- Roger DaltreyF2–C5F2–C52.6 oct
- Ronnie James DioF2–A#5F2–A#53.4 oct
- Ronnie RadkeD2–G5D2–G53.4 oct
- Roy OrbisonE2–E5E2–E53.0 oct
- Rufus WainwrightA2–D5A2–D52.4 oct
- Salif KeitaB2–D5B2–D52.3 oct
- Sam CookeA2–E5A2–E52.6 oct
- Sam FenderF#2–F5F#2–F52.9 oct
- Sam RyderC4–E6C4–E62.3 oct
- Sammy HagarD2–B5D2–B53.8 oct
Singers Seal through Vicente Fernández
- SealD#2–G5D#2–G53.3 oct
- Sebastian BachF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
- Shawn MendesG2–E5G2–E52.8 oct
- Smokey RobinsonA2–A#5A2–A#53.1 oct
- Smokie NorfulD2–D#5D2–D#53.1 oct
- Steve LacyC#3–E5C#3–E52.3 oct
- Steve PerryG2–A5G2–A53.2 oct
- Steven TylerF2–C6F2–C63.6 oct
- Stevie WonderC2–E6C2–E64.3 oct
- StingD#2–E5D#2–E53.1 oct
- Sufjan StevensB2–A4B2–A41.8 oct
- T-PainB2–F5B2–F52.5 oct
- TaeyangA2–F5A2–F52.7 oct
- The WeekndG2–B5G2–B53.3 oct
- Thom YorkeF2–F5F2–F53.0 oct
- Toots HibbertG2–C5G2–C52.4 oct
- Trey SongzF2–G5F2–G53.2 oct
- Troye SivanC3–F5C3–F52.4 oct
- Tyler ChildersE2–C6E2–C63.7 oct
- Tyler JosephA2–F6A2–F63.7 oct
- UsherA#2–A5A#2–A52.9 oct
- Van MorrisonG2–D5G2–D52.6 oct
- Vance JoyB2–A5B2–A52.8 oct
- Vicente FernándezA2–C5A2–C52.3 oct
Singers Vince Gill through Zayn
How high — and how low — tenors sing
How high can a tenor sing?
The conventional tenor band tops out around C5, but recorded tenors are cited well past it: the highest note among the 223 tenors indexed here is C8, cited for Dimash Kudaibergen.
How low can a tenor sing?
Conventionally the tenor band bottoms out around C3. The lowest cited note among the tenors here is F1, cited for Axl Rose.
Other voice types