How to Sing Alto

(Last Updated On: June 28, 2023)
A singer is singing in alto range.

BecomeSingers is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Alto is the 2nd highest vocal range and also the lowest female voice in classical or opera singing. Its range is below soprano and above the tenor and bass. Thus, the soprano and the Alto singer is the perfect match for female duet performance. Most of the contemporary female duet singing performances are always performed by a woman singing high notes in soprano and another female singer singing low notes to make a perfect harmony for the song.

What is Alto?

The term alto used in vocal music refers to the register, which is nearly between the F below the middle C and to the 2nd D above. In 4-part vocals, it is the 2nd highest voice part. Initially, the term alto referred to the male voice, which is highest, and which also sang falsetto.

Originating from the phrase contratenor Altus, this term during Renaissance music implied to the element which was directly above the tenor part. Contralto is the alto voices of a female. The word alto can also refer to a musical instrument having an almost similar range- like alto saxophone, alto flute, and alto clarinet. In the French language, the word alto has a different meaning. Alto means ‘tenor violin‘ or ‘tenor saxhorn,’ while the word Contraalte in French has the same definition of the word ‘Alto‘ in English. 

The meaning of alto in music is “high” as interpreted in the Italian language. In Latin, it’s “altus”, referring to the 2nd highest voice in a contrapuntal music texture.  It is also applied usually in associated vocal range, especially in the case of choral music.  It is very seldom that it is described as the highest male voice type in solo.  Most frequently, it is also being associated to contralto which is the lowest female standard voice type. In using instruments, it can also likewise refer to the vocal range of alto trombone and alto flute.

These are the lowest and highest form of instruments in their category, or to musical role that refers to alto recorder or treble, and alto clarinet.  In choral music, the alto range is from G3 referring to G below key of C middle to F5 which is the F in 2nd octave above the C middle.

Vocal Characteristics of an Alto Singer

When used commonly, alto describes the type of voice that sings this part typically.  However, this is not absolutely right.  Just like the other 3 standard choral voice types; namely, sopranobass and tenor. Bass was intended originally to describe a polyphonic or homophonic texture instead of a solo type of voice type.

Neither alto nor contralto is synonymous or interchangeable, although they are often considered as such.  Women whose voice is alto in a choir are actually contraltos.  Many of them should be more appropriately called mezzo-sopranos with a kind of voice that is somewhat higher in range and different in timbre.

A lot of male voices that are mistakenly being associated to countertenors are more of a “male alto” according to some music authorities.  This is because these countertenors are usually producing falsetto voice.  Actually, a contralto voice is simply using a vocal tessitura, timbre and range.

A solo contralto that is classically-trained usually has a kind of range which is greater than a standard choral alto, both in the lower and upper ranges.  But the vocal tessitura possessed by a classically trained contralto still makes the singers more comfortable in singing the lower parts of their voices.

A non-solo contralto singing in a choir may be considered as having a low range of D3.  This makes him find it easier perhaps to sing tenor in a choir, while some may be having difficulty in singing higher than E5. Contraltos and mezzo-sopranos singing in a choral context may be able to sing the alto along with countertenors to produce 3 vocal timbres, and 2 types of vocal production that can sing the same notes.

It is very rare that Alto is used in describing a vocal solo, although there are numerous terms that are used commonly in different languages.  Examples of these are contralto, haute-contre, countertenor, tenor altino, etc.

Steps on Learning How to Sing Alto

Below are the 4 simple steps that you can begin to learn alto singing. For initial training session for beginners, try to find some very easy songs to sing in Alto. Then you may choose more challenging Alto songs to train your Alto vocal for better and faster improvement down to the road.

Step 1) Find the Suitable Music Instrument

Piano is the best music instrument for Alto. In this session, try to sing an easy alto song to determine whether you can sing in alto range. Normally, altos sing from the “G” located below “Middle C” to the “E” a 1/10 above “Middle C.” Just search for the key below the name of the piano brand to located the “Middle C” if you unsure where is it.

Step 2) Vocal Test

Perform a simple vocal test. Test it by following the octave ranged from “G3” below “Middle C” to the “G5“. Try to match your vocal voice to each single note of the octave with the piano. Observe whether you are able to finish all the notes in range comfortably.

Step 3: Learn to Read Music Notes

For better understanding and handling in singing alto. Space out some valuable time to learn reading the music notes as it’s the fundamental knowledge of the music education. It may hard to learn in the beginning, but it’s worth struggling through it as it will be your stepping stone in your singing journey. Furthermore, you will find yourself very easy to learn and absorb any style of music in a minute. Try to build up your alto singing ability from the fundamental training.

Step 4) Lower Your Larynx To Sing In Alto Range

You have to familiarize yourself to sing with the lower larynx so that you can hold in good position to support your breathing and air flow for better alto voice quality.

Step 5) Join Vocal Group

Join a vocal group and try to sing alto in the group if you have an opportunity. You have your alto voice right now. Join the vocal group in church, school or community that sings 4 part harmony. The main advantage of singing in a vocal group is that you are able to listen and discuss with the various singers who are singing in the same notes and part as you. Therefore, you will have chances to learn how to sing alto by determine which alto right or wrong in the positions of the audience.

Techniques & Skills Every Alto Must Learn

Strengthen Your Lower Parts of Your Voice

One can get a good sense of whether or not they are an alto singer just by singing along with a song. If going down to a G or an A is too difficult, that alone will answer the question of whether you can sing alto or not. Most altos can easily sing an A, F, or a G and at times, even much lower notes too. Classical Alto singer had a rich, warm voice and had the ability to hit bottom notes easily. Most pop singers today are not considered true altos.

To sing an alto, it is really about opening up the bottom, all while keeping a warm and open tone at the bottom. Also, think regarding supporting and resonating with the lower parts of the voice. It’s not all about hitting high notes, as it is still easy to do. It is more about hitting those low notes; their lower range is not enough to sing low notes. 

If you want to sing like alto or if you are already an alto, then you need to divert the focus on working on the bottom notes. 

Sing with Fuller Tone

If you are an alto, the best way to think about that is by having the lowest female voice. Essentially, what it means that one has, one lives, and one can be diverse according to an individual. Many, altos have a comfortable low F, which goes all the way up to an E. this way, they cover the whole bottom.  Many of these beautiful, vibrant tones on the bottom are supported very well and are quite well adjusted to their voice.

If you genuinely want to be an alto, you should focus on enriching the quality of the voice. ‘Chest Voice’ is used a lot in alto. Think on the lines of having a more open and also a fuller tone. The higher you go on a scale, the lighter a tone becomes. If you are an alto, there is a great deal of warmth and also a great deal of resonance. You really should be skilled in supporting those lower notes so that while execution, they sound beautiful and are audible.

Alto in Modern Pop Music

There is some misinformation regarding who is, in fact, a true alto singer in today’s Modern Pop Industry. One is those who say that Adele and Amy Winehouse are pure altos. Well, this is not true.  A true alto singer would mean a female singer having with non-typical female range and also vocal weights. Just because these singers can sing the alto part in the church choir, doesn’t make them a true alto. Cher, Tracy Chapman, and Annie Lennox are some of the famous alto singers. People, at times, even mistake them for male tenors when one hears them for the first time. Singers like Amy Winehouse, Adele, Lorde, and Miley Cyrus are mezzos, not alto singers, as many people consider them based on their vocal tone, weight, and range.

Related Posts:

12 thoughts on “How to Sing Alto”

  1. For some reason, my voice is all scratchy after not singing for about a month. I constantly have to clear it constantly, and water doesn’t help. Is that bad?

    Reply
  2. I really want to sing Alto in my church quior but I don’t have a guitar to practice is there any other ways that I can practice I I live in Papua New Guinea .

    thank you waiting to hear from you .

    Reply
  3. Hi,
    I dont have a piano at home and live in Ghana West Africa.
    How do i learn then.Asking because i really wont to take up singing as a carrier.Kindly help.
    Would love to hear from you.
    Thanks
    Regards.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Sam Cancel reply