brenner13 Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Ya know, women have a falsetto range, too. Mariah's squeakers are most certainly using that technique. Not sure why falsetto would not be considered valid for range. Some singers can simply transition more smoothly than others; Chris Cornell for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 As far as wide ranges are concerned, you can't leave Geoff Tate out of the discussion... From all the way up here (please, no comments on the goofy 80's hair and costumes, we all know they were goofy)... [video:youtube] To all the way down here... [video:youtube] A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboK Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 For Rock Music there is only one answer: Steve Perry. Countertenor extraordinaire. Power and ease beyond measure. Wrong. He's no where near a countertenor. Maybe a bargain-counter tenor... A countertenor is a male alto, and he's not even close. No way he can go up to an E5. If you want high, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jon Anderson. He truly is a male Alto. For range and control still maintain Annie Haslam of Renaissance has all the others whacked to the wide. Ashes Are Burning Live she still has magnificent control of her 5-octave range. Listen to the first 2 minutes for control, but if you want to just be wowed with a singer's capabilities and range, just jump to 3:10 and watch her let loose with those astounding pipes in "Ashes Are Burning." ..Joe See below for examples: C6 ("On a Saturday Night" live in Tokyo '79) B5 (1978 Soundstage Clip, "Sweet Little Angel" live) B♭5 ("Roadrunner" live 1979) A5 ("Homemade Love", "Makes No Difference", "Roadrunner", "Something to Hide", "Sweet and Simple") G5 ("La Do Da", "Mother Father" live Houston 1981, "Lay It Down", 1978 Soundstage Clip, "Roadrunner") F5 ("Back Talk", "Do You Recall" live, "Patiently" live, "Something to Hide", "Wheel In The Sky") E5 ("Dead Or Alive" live in Houston 1981, "Edge of the Blade", "Mother, Father", "Party's Over", "Patiently" live, "Separate Ways", "Why Can't This Night Go on Forever?") E♭5 ("Faithfully", "Keep On Runnin'", "Mother, Father", "Suzanne") D5 ("After the Fall", "Edge of the Blade", "Homemade Love", "It Could Have Been You", "Mother, Father", "Once You Love Somebody", "Opened the Door" live, "Stone in Love", "Suzanne", "Sweet and Simple", "The Eyes of a Woman", "Why Can't This Night Go on Forever?") C♯5 ("Don't Stop Believing", "Happy to Give", "If Only for a Moment, Girl", "It Could Have Been You", "Just the Same Way", "Little Girl", "We Are the World", "Why Can't This Night Go On Forever?") C5 ("Destiny", "Good Morning Girl", "Happy to Give", "Lovin' You Is Easy", "Once You Love Somebody", "Positive Touch", "Still They Ride", "Stone in Love", "Troubled Child", "Winds of March") Korg Kronos 2 61, Kronos 1 61, Dave Smith Mopho x4, 1954 Hammond C2, Wurlitzer 200A, Yamaha Motif 6, Casio CDP-100, Alesis Vortex Wireless, too much PA gear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 This one trumps the lot , a Humungous D#7 sung by one of the best singers in the buz , Tarja of Nightwish - (I set it up to start just before) at 4:09 > You could probably say she is an opera singer doing rock . Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 This has kind of gotten silly. I know a guy with a dog whistle - he's obviously the best singer. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 I thought we were talking about an interesting subject?. I'm not after the highest notes either. Eva Cassidy is one of the greatest singers ever to me > http://youtu.be/ccCnL8hArW8 Eva's "Fields of Gold" > http://youtu.be/ZGwDYBWEDSc Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newkeys Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Rather than just measuring from the highest note you can *momentarily* hit to the lowest,I like the idea of "meaningful range" -- the notes where you can actually sing a musical phrase with good tone, full-voice or falsetto. For guys, that brings to mind Stevie or McCartney . . . also Richard Manuel of The Band or Bunny Wailer. I believe Philip Bailey, the falsetto virtuoso in EWF, actually had a good full voice but didn't need it in that band. There's also the deceptive kind of wide range, i.e., people who can keep the *same timbre* throughout a song that demands a wide range. Gregory Isaacs (amazing Jamaican singer) could do that; you did't realize how wide his full voice range was unless you tried to sing what he was singing. Gotta give a special prize for BPS (best pitched screaming) . . . Wilson Pickett the champ maybe? Tyler in Aerosmith had his moments too. God, these examples are all so . . . twentieth century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analogholic Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 I´m surprised that the outstanding Rachelle Ferrell is not mentioned on that list or in this thread. If I´m not mistaken, Quincy Jones thanked her for her 6 1/2 octave range on one of his albums. So in that regard, she blows everyone away on that list. And as a singer...she´s just incredible even if she "overexercises" at times. [video:youtube] [video:youtube] All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. Arthur Schopenhauer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Williams Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 I'd add to the list a few fellows known for wide ranges: Roy Orbison (3.5 octaves), Peter Cetera (4.5 octaves, reputed), Greg X. Volz (of the Christian group Petra, 4 octaves -- I once heard him sing from the bottom to the top of a guitar) as well as his replacement John Schlitt, formerly of Head East, another 4-octaver. Mozart is said to have had a student with an eight-octave range. -Tom Williams {First Name} {at} AirNetworking {dot} com PC4-7, PX-5S, AX-Edge, PC361 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 For Rock Music there is only one answer: Steve Perry. Countertenor extraordinaire. Power and ease beyond measure. Wrong. He's no where near a countertenor. Maybe a bargain-counter tenor... A countertenor is a male alto, and he's not even close. No way he can go up to an E5. Is that the upper range for a classic alto, or Broadway? There are several definitions for the ranges. Rather than just measuring from the highest note you can *momentarily* hit to the lowest,I like the idea of "meaningful range" -- the notes where you can actually sing a musical phrase with good tone, full-voice or falsetto. ... and singing words, not vocal whistling. That would exclude Minnie Ripperton's top notes, but I believe she'd still be one of the higher voices. Then another competition including vocal whistling, because that can be cool too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Freddy Mercury was one of the Icons of vocals , that's for sure. Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brenner13 Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 No one has mentioned Bowzer? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NyK3df0xaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicale Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 I don't know her true range and I don't think she sings any falsetto, but Eva Cassidy has an awesome range and voice. Musicale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Ok, here's my analytical approach to an apples to apples comparison..... Break testing into categories 1) sustained, controllable natural voice A note must be sung non-falsetto and held a steady pitch for at least 1 second. 2) non-sustained/controlled natural voice Still not falsetto, but the highest/ lowest note achieved even just as a peak. 3) sustained/controlled falsetto See #1, except only falsetto. Note: low falsetto is of equal interest to high falsetto. Some may have a wide falsetto range and narrow natural range, and vice versa. 4). Non-sustained/controlled falsetto This would cover all the whoops and he's...the brief yelps that propelled so many into such a ridiculous range. After gathering the above data, there would emerge standouts within each category. The combination of widest range in the most categories would be telling. That's simply range. Another test for accuracy would be interesting. However, there are far too many unmeasurable characteristics that make a good vocalist. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 J - you forgot about "head voice" range - which is subtly different from falsetto. However, regarding the "widest range in the most categories" part, I think there's a major function of practice there. I, for example, when I was in my 20's had a total (I'm a natural bass/1st baritone) range of A2 to E4 in my natural range, E4 to B4 in my head voice, and G4 to G5 in sustained, power falsetto. Over the years, I practiced more on my natural range and head voice (because it was an easier shift than falsetto) and pushed my natural range all the way up to G4 and my head voice all the way to E5, but I pretty much sacrificed my falsetto to get it - I could no longer extend to G5 in falsetto. Nowadays, I'm so out of practice singing (plus I smoke a lot) at all that I've lost my head voice completely, my natural is back down to around an E4, and my falsetto is a shaky Db5. All about the focus in your practice regimen, I think... A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegerardi Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 For Rock Music there is only one answer: Steve Perry. Countertenor extraordinaire. Power and ease beyond measure. Wrong. He's no where near a countertenor. Maybe a bargain-counter tenor... A countertenor is a male alto, and he's not even close. No way he can go up to an E5. Is that the upper range for a classic alto, or Broadway? There are several definitions for the ranges. That's Classical. I'm guessing that most are substituting MIDI note numbers for the Classical range, because there's no way Steve Perry sings 2-1/2 octaves above middle C- that's 8 notes before the upper end of a 5-octave synth's keyboard, and he just ain't that high. Most people mistakenly place a singer's range one octave above where they actually sing. The movable family of C-Clefs are there to keep singer's notes on the the staff, marking where middle C is for the singer. A Soprano's C is on what would be the G line of a G Clef, and a tenor's is on what would be the D line of a G Clef, because a tremendous number of his notes are below middle C. So, bearing this in mind, people shouldn't think that Perry is way up there in the stratosphere. He isn't: he's singing far lower than people think. ..Joe Setup: Korg Kronos 61, Roland XV-88, Korg Triton-Rack, Motif-Rack, Korg N1r, Alesis QSR, Roland M-GS64 Yamaha KX-88, KX76, Roland Super-JX, E-Mu Longboard 61, Kawai K1II, Kawai K4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Clark Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 I´m surprised that the outstanding Rachelle Ferrell is not mentioned on that list or in this thread. If I´m not mistaken, Quincy Jones thanked her for her 6 1/2 octave range on one of his albums. So in that regard, she blows everyone away on that list. And as a singer...she´s just incredible even if she "overexercises" at times. [video:youtube] [video:youtube] +10 Soul, R&B, Pop from Los Angeles http://philipclark.com Cannonball Gerald Albright Signature Alto, Yamaha YC73, Fender Rhodes, Roland Juno-106, Yamaha MX61, Roland VR-09, MicroKorg XL, Maschine Mikro, Yamaha Reface CP, Roland MKS-50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Not alive but Roy Orbison was said to have a 4 octave range. Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluzeyone Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Mel Torme is my fave. Sam Cooke. "A good mix is subjective to one's cilia." http://hitnmiss.yolasite.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phloid Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Don Henley has vocal range worthy of discussion. I think he deserves special recognition for taking care of his voice, knowing how to sing properly and striving for perfection in every performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Don Henley's got a great voice , does one of my favorite songs from the 80's - Dirty Laundry > http://youtu.be/h0xr31XbSOU Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 One of the greatest with big lungs and range - John Farnham of Australia > Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleomenesII Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I can't see any mention of Alison Goldfrapp - I might have missed it. Not necessarily super-high, but very interesting, and interestingly processed. Interesting bit starts at 1.12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Freddy Mercury was one of the Icons of vocals , that's for sure. Brett Axl Rose Responds to Rolling Stone Magazine KLONK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Freddy Mercury was one of the Icons of vocals , that's for sure. Brett Axl Rose Responds to Rolling Stone Magazine KLONK Well I'll be damned. Axl shows some humility for the first time in his life... A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keysofchaos Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Among jazz singers in particular, after genuflecting in Billie's direction, I'd nominate Helen Merrill for pure artistry and musicianship. And I would never assert that freakish vocal range==best singer, either. B. I agree with the second sentence 100%. But as to the first, I'd have to vote for Eva Cassidy ... her vocals absolutely melt me. For male jazz singers, Al Jarreau is one of the first to come to mind. For a combination of range & all around greatness in the pop-rock scene I've got to go with Freddie Mercury. If music is soul food, man am I hungry! scs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 For a combination of range & all around greatness in the pop-rock scene I've got to go with Freddie Mercury. Can't argue with that choice. Here was a guy I thought had a legit shot at being the second coming of Freddie - but alas, at the time the public wanted bad singers and bad musicians, and that's what they got... [video:youtube] Bombastic, inflective, dynamic, controlled, and a great power range! A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboK Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 For Rock Music there is only one answer: Steve Perry. Countertenor extraordinaire. Power and ease beyond measure. Wrong. He's no where near a countertenor. Maybe a bargain-counter tenor... A countertenor is a male alto, and he's not even close. No way he can go up to an E5. Is that the upper range for a classic alto, or Broadway? There are several definitions for the ranges. That's Classical. I'm guessing that most are substituting MIDI note numbers for the Classical range, because there's no way Steve Perry sings 2-1/2 octaves above middle C- that's 8 notes before the upper end of a 5-octave synth's keyboard, and he just ain't that high. Most people mistakenly place a singer's range one octave above where they actually sing. The movable family of C-Clefs are there to keep singer's notes on the the staff, marking where middle C is for the singer. A Soprano's C is on what would be the G line of a G Clef, and a tenor's is on what would be the D line of a G Clef, because a tremendous number of his notes are below middle C. So, bearing this in mind, people shouldn't think that Perry is way up there in the stratosphere. He isn't: he's singing far lower than people think. ..Joe Okay, you've piqued my interest. And I don't claim to be an expert on this subject at all, I just know many singers who consider Perry's highest stuff to be undoable. So, do me a favor and tell me what notes he's hitting at the 2:25 mark during this solo? Seems to be up above C5 doesn't it? Or is that my ear playing tricks on me? Famous live gig: Midnight Special, Wheel in the Sky. Most people don't realize he sings through the last part of the guitar solo and it's pretty soaring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfz2FPY5KpQ I would love your input. Korg Kronos 2 61, Kronos 1 61, Dave Smith Mopho x4, 1954 Hammond C2, Wurlitzer 200A, Yamaha Motif 6, Casio CDP-100, Alesis Vortex Wireless, too much PA gear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Can I apply for job of said expert? , at 2:25 he's hitting D6 , and climbs shortly after to F6. (Perry is famous for being one of the big wheels who soars) Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phloid Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 (Sorry for my apathy regarding the Axl Rose update) David Gilmour is another vocalist with noteworthy range and a great sense for harmony. They say he has an exceptional ability to do harmony tracks in one take. He is another vocalist who knows how to sing properly, has taken care of his voice over the years, has a broad range and can reach near perfection so long as his voice is healthy, rested and he is trying. If you have ever listened to the DSOTM and Animals live bootleg material you know PF was not focused on perfect vocals in their live shows during this period. Gilmour nails guitar leads but the vocals are rough. However listening to his post-Floyd Meltdown live material you hear his ability to hit a broad range of highs and lows perfectly. [video:youtube]lKKLqnN8iVU [video:youtube]Np_QNsdJPeE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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