When referring to particular octave scale, you may see a number associated with it (i.e seventh octave ) or a note (C5). The following may offer some explanation.

An octave scale is named for the note that begins and ends it (they are the same, only one octave apart, or the end note is double the frequency of the beginning note. Note at the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are used to name the musical notes. Using C major, the octave scale would be C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. But which C to start with, as there are eight C notes on the 88-key piano? The octave number tells us which.

Examples

The first note on the piano is 'A'. Since it is the first note, it is called A1. Note that it vibrates at only 27.5 Hz.

The next white note is B1. The black key in between is a half-step and is the sharp of A (A�ò1) or the flat of B (B�ó1).

The next white-key notes are C1, D1, E1, F1, and G1 respectively. The black keys in between are the flat of the note after it and the sharp of the note before it.

The next A is the second A, named A2. It vibrates at 55 Hz (double A1). This repeats again, to A3 (110 Hz).

So when we say a person can vocalize in the seventh octave, what we are really saying is the person's vocal cords are capable of producing a musical pitch between the seventh and the eighth A (in standard musical practice, C is the base). Although it is not customary to number the piano octaves (the seventh octave's controversy and rarity is the only real exception), the octaves are listed below to help gain a mental perspective of where a range is.

• First octave (C1 - C2) - Deepest notes

Only the deepest basses (i.e Barry White) can vocalize in the upper reaches on this low register

• Second octave (C2 - C3) - Most male voice

Most male voices can pitch in this octave, with the tenors barely skirting the top of it, while the basses can go almost all the way down through it. Some basses (basso profundo can go completely and beyond the bottom). A rare female (Mariah Carey or Toni Braxton) can also like the tenor skirt the top of this octave.

• Third octave (C3 - C4) - Most voices

Most voices have some abilities in this octave. All male voices are strong here and female low notes usually start in this octave. Contraltos can pitch D3 or E3, while sopranos start higher at G3 or A4* (see end of text).

• Fourth octave (C4 - C5) - Nearly universal (this is the middle octave)

Nearly any and every voice has an ability in some part of this octave. For the male voices, the higher notes (in head or mixed voice) are here. Basses will probably end around D4 or E4. This same octave is the lower part of most female vocal ranges

• Fifth octave (C5 - C6) - Most female voice

Many male voice do not enter this octave, but some voices (especially the tenor who must be able to vocalize the C5 or Tenor C to classify) can. Contraltos will end around the F5 or G5. Sopranos will reach the top out somewhere between A6 and D6, depending on color and altitude.

• Sixth Octave (C6 - C7) - Sopranos

Very few men can do anything in this octave. The classical range for an operatic soprano ends at C6 or D6, although many, especially the coloratura can go higher. In contemporary music, sopranos are classified by level. A soprano's level is determined by her altitude. A soprano that has no abilities in the whistle register is a Soprano I (do not confuse this with the choir classification of first or second soprano). A soprano that can reach into the whistle register vocalizing over at least most of the sixth octave is a soprano II (example, Christina Aguilera)

• Seventh Octave (C7 - C8) - Rare soprano (see Whistle Register for full examples of singers capable of this altitude)

Classical music deems the seventh octave not musical; the highest operatic piece utilizes a G�ò6. Sopranos that can vocalize here (significantly above C7) are Soprano IIIs. Very few have any significant ability here, thus a soprano III is rare. Mariah Carey, Minnie Riperton, and Rachelle Ferrell are examples.

Note

Many people start counting the octaves with C. Using that notation (which is utilized by many, including articles here in Wikipedia - see Piano key frequencies), the first notes are A0, A�ò0, and B0 (since they are merely there for harmonic puposes and are RARELY used in any actual music). Then you have C1 go to up to A1, B1, and C2. If you read many articles about vocal range, this is how range is established. The octaves are incremented on C, not A (the picture at the top increments on A).

Determining vocal range

So does he or she have a one, two or three octave range? Ten? Mariah Carey is said to have a five octave range, but how is a singer's range calculated? A vocal coach (or other knowledgeable person) asks the singer the reach the lowest note they can hit (no matter how unmusical). Next, they climb the scale in various vocalise until they pitch their top note (again, they may push or force a little). This also helps explain why most singers do NOT use the very top of the range. Then you simply subtract low from high. Let's say your low note is an E3; your high is a B5. You're a solid mezzo-soprano. 5-3 = 2. Next, there are four whole steps between E and B, namely E to F, F to G, G to A, and finally A to B. So your range would be two and a half octaves, although many people would say simply two and change. Again, it is important to note that many people can vocalise higher than they normally sing in or record in.

See also

• Piano key frequencies
• A440