Baritone Vocal Range
The baritone is the middle male voice and the most common type of male voice. The typical baritone range runs from A2 to A4, two octaves, and it may extend down to F2 or up to C5. It overlaps both the tenor and bass ranges. Treat these notes as a guide.
What notes can a baritone sing?
| Note | Name | MIDI | Hz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical lowest note | A2 | 45 | 110.0 |
| Typical highest note | A4 | 69 | 440.0 |
| Lowest extreme | F2 | 41 | 87.3 |
| Highest extreme | C5 | 72 | 523.3 |
Notes are approximations: voice classification systems differ, and no system is universally accepted. See the vocal range chart for other voice types.
What is the baritone voice like?
A baritone’s range lies between the bass and tenor ranges and overlaps both. The tessitura of a baritone is lower than a tenor’s and higher than a bass’s.
Because most people have medium voices, baritones are often placed in choir parts that are too high or too low: a baritone may be asked to sing tenor or bass. Voice teachers generally say it is less risky to sing a little too low than too high.
What are the baritone subtypes?
- Baryton-Martin
- Lyric baritone
- Bel canto (coloratura) baritone
- Kavalierbariton
- Heldenbaritone
- Verdi baritone
- Dramatic baritone
- Baryton-noble
- Bass-baritone
Baritone subtypes are divided by range, tone colour, vocal weight and agility.
How do I know if I am a baritone?
Find your lowest and highest comfortable notes with the free test, then compare them with A2 to A4. Range is only one factor: where your voice is comfortable most of the time (tessitura) and the colour of your sound (timbre) matter more. If you are unsure, a voice teacher can classify your voice.
Are you a baritone? Test your range
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Frequently asked questions
What is the baritone vocal range?
The typical baritone range runs from A2 to A4. It may extend down to F2 or up to C5. The baritone overlaps both the tenor and bass ranges. Another source gives B2 to F4 as an operatic approximation, so limits vary between sources.
Is baritone the most common male voice?
Yes. The baritone is described as the most common type of male voice. Because most people have medium voices, many men who think they are tenors or basses are really baritones, especially if they struggle with the top or bottom of those parts.
What is the difference between baritone and bass?
Basses sit lower, typically E2 to E4, while baritones typically sing A2 to A4. The ranges overlap. A bass voice also tends to have the lowest tessitura of all, meaning it is most comfortable low down in the range.
Can a baritone sing tenor notes?
The top of a baritone range, around A4, overlaps with the top of many tenors’ ranges, and some baritones reach C5. A baritone singing tenor parts for long periods can find the high notes tiring, so choose parts that feel comfortable.
What is a bass-baritone?
A bass-baritone is a subtype that has some qualities of both a bass and a baritone. The term appears in the subtype lists of both the baritone and the bass, so it sits between the two voices.
How do I know if I am a baritone?
Find your lowest and highest comfortable notes with the free test. If your range is centred around A2 to A4 and you are neither struggling in the high notes of tenor parts nor the low notes of bass parts, baritone is likely.
Other voice types
Sources
- Wikipedia. Voice type. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_type
- Wikipedia. Vocal range. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_range
Sources checked on October 11, 2026. Voice-type ranges are approximations and differ between sources. If you spot a mistake, email info@vocalrange.net.
Last updated: October 11, 2026