From soaring highs to rumbling lows, these vocalists defy the limits of human vocal capabilities! Join us as we count down our picks for the singers with the most extraordinary vocal ranges. Whether they're hitting whistle notes or dropping to bass depths, these performers demonstrate vocal prowess that leaves audiences speechless.
02:30He possesses a tenor voice with an estimated range of just above four octaves, slightly lower than Axl Rose's range.
02:37It's estimated to span from A1 to C-sharp 6, making it one of the widest ranges in pop.
02:43You can hear his deepest notes in his collaboration with Michael Jackson, The Girl Is Mine.
03:02His highests are probably in Cut Me Some Slack, featuring ex Nirvana members.
03:077. Whitney Houston
03:15One of Houston's most appropriate nicknames is The Voice.
03:18It's simple, but it serves as a testament to how amazing her vocals are.
03:22She released her first album in 1985, which was a huge success.
03:26Houston's career only went up from there.
03:28I fall in love whenever we meet I'm asking you, cause you know about these things
03:36With over 220 million records sold, she's one of the most celebrated vocalists ever, and for good reason.
03:42I'm wiser now I'm not the foolish girl you used to know
03:51Her lowest note is a C-sharp 3, which you can hear on Try It On My Own.
03:55Then her highest on record is an impressive E-flat 6, from her 1999 Wembley performance of Heartbreak Hotel.
04:03Therefore, we can estimate that her range was just over an extraordinary three octaves.
04:08No matter what they take from me, they can't take all my digits too.
04:166. Steven Tyler
04:18Also known as the Demon of Screamin', Tyler is exactly what the name implies.
04:22He's been the lead singer of the rock band Aerosmith since their founding in 1970.
04:26The band has since sold over 150 million records globally.
04:30It's unlikely they would have done so well if not for Tyler's next-level vocals.
04:41He can sing just over four octaves, ranging from D2 to E6.
04:48His highest comes from their climax of their hit track Crazy, which is so high it barely sounds human.
04:56Tyler's lowest notes are shown off in the tracks St. John and Under My Skin.
05:005. Minnie Riperton
05:08In 1974, Riperton released her best-known single, Loving You.
05:12It was quickly certified gold in America, alongside peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
05:26She tragically died five years later, aged only 31.
05:29Despite her untimely death, she solidified herself in music history.
05:40She's well known for having an astonishing range, almost five octaves wide, the highest on our list so far.
05:46She's also celebrated for singing in the Whistle Register remarkably well.
05:49It's likely Riperton achieved such skill from being trained in opera singing, but of course, she preferred pop and soul to opera.
06:044. Christina Aguilera
06:05Aguilera is another entry hailed as the voice of a generation.
06:09Her career began in 1990, and she became a Disney star soon after.
06:13She wouldn't achieve real, mainstream success until roughly 1999, though.
06:26Since then, she's become popular enough to sell over 100 million records.
06:31There's no way she would have achieved this without her tremendous vocal skills.
06:35Her range goes from B2 to C-sharp 7, which is a little over four octaves in total.
06:48Aguilera's highest note is found on the Christmas song.
06:51Then the lowest is from the similar Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which she performed at a Disney parade in 2011.
06:57Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
07:043. James Brown
07:06This man was so skilled that he's never had just one nickname, but multiple.
07:10Brown's career began in the mid-1950s, then didn't end until half a century later when he tragically died in 2006.
07:17He primarily sang soul, but also dabbled in funk and R&B.
07:21Along the way, he developed a huge range.
07:24It spanned four octaves and one-third, ranging from D2 to an incredible F-sharp 6.
07:38This was undeniably a huge reason he achieved 17 number one Billboard R&B singles.
07:44When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began in 1986, Brown was one of the first ten inducted.
07:58It's clear why he's regarded as the king of soul, with few artists matching his influence and skill.
08:032. Ariana Grande
08:13Whether you love her music or hate it, everyone agrees that Grande has incredible range.
08:18The singer has a mastery of four octaves in total, a range few can match.
08:223. Ariana Grande
08:23In 2020, she became the highest-paid woman in music globally.
08:30At one point, the top three tracks on the Billboard Hot 100 were all Grande.
08:35She was the first solo artist to achieve such a feat.
08:373. Ariana Grande
08:43Grande displayed the highest notes that she could perform with a cover of Emotions by Mariah Carey.
08:47It wouldn't be surprising if Grande could sing in pictures only heard by dogs.
08:51You made me feel so
08:53Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
09:03Prince
09:03The legendary rock star could sing over five octaves.
09:06If you just leave it all
09:08To me, my love would be a fool
09:12Say what, say what, say what, say what
09:14Corey Taylor
09:15Slipknot's lead singer has a five and a half octave range.
09:18The things I have to say
09:21To me, my dreams of love around
09:25Mike Patton
09:26He's the only one on this list who reaches over six octaves.
09:29Ooh
09:30Ooh
09:31Ooh
09:33Ooh
09:34Ooh
09:36Ooh
09:37Ooh
09:38Ooh
09:39Ooh
09:40Jeff Buckley
09:41The 90s singer-songwriter had an impressive four-octave range.
09:46Beyonce, the former member of Destiny's Child, also possesses a four-octave range.
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10:201. Mariah Carey
10:23Taking our top spot is the endlessly talented vocalist Mariah Carey.
10:27You make me feel so
10:30Higher
10:32Oh, yeah
10:34Her mother was an opera singer and vocal coach, who was likely a huge inspiration for her.
10:39Carey started singing at three and hasn't stopped singing since. Now she possesses an almost ethereal voice, capable of five octaves.
10:47This talent helped her to sell over 220 million records globally.
10:52Won't you please come around? Cause I want to share forever
10:56A million
10:58The list of awards Carey's received is monumentally huge, including Grammys and AMAs.
11:05In total, she's won 170 of the 304 awards that she's been nominated for.
11:11Additionally, she holds several Billboard Hot 100 records, which are unlikely to be beaten anytime soon.
11:24What's your favourite song that showcases a monumental vocal range? Let us know in the comments section.
