Where are you in the choir?

[Padma]

I thought we needed one of these to go with the "orchestra" poll.

These days, I'm a baritone who can sing both tenor and bass on a good day (so this poll is already crap!) but I'm closer to a bass than anything else.

If you sing, or if you'd like to sing (and you can, don't let anyone tell you it's not possible, I've witnessed so-called "tone deaf" people become amazing singers), what range do you or would you sing? And I leave it up to you whether you vote for your current range, or your target one if you're trying to change your voice .

by the way, after 17 years online, this is me breaking my poll-posting virginity .

[rejennyrated]

I am a true contralto - (was technically originally a counter-tenor I suppose).

In days gone by (aged about 25) I played Ruth in Pirates of Penzance and Katisha in Mikado - both parts which require the actress to be made up like an old biddy - which when I was newly postop and wanting to look attractive was a bit of a downer - but I know I must not grumble. After all at least I got to sing a female part, which given my background was an acheivement all of its own, although sadly one that few recognised for what it was!

Sadly my voice has now begun to "fade" with age. It has become a bit thin and warbly where once it was rich and smooth.

[kyril]

I always sang tenor - I lost a few notes at the low end of the tenor range when I hit puberty, but I've got them back now (albeit with extremely terrible control...I envy the boys who continue singing through puberty). But I was also missing notes at the top of the alto range - suppose I was a contralto or counter-tenor, but high school choir parts aren't written for contrarian voices I pretty much quit singing in high school.

When/if I start singing again I hope to sing bass or baritone, but I'd settle for being a true tenor. Doubt I will be though, I'm quickly losing the upper end of my tenor range, it's now all above the "break" in my voice.

[Padma]

Fret not, I thought I had a really limited range - until I started singing for at least half an hour a day. Your range just builds in both directions when you use your voice (well - as opposed to straining it). I had one singing lesson from an amazing teacher here in Norwich who completely changed how I used my throat and tongue - and completely messed up my ability to sing in tune while I got used to the new approach . but I find now I can sing in both bass and tenor ranges (so long as the tenor part isn't too high). My singalong of choice is Annie Lennox's album Medusa - she has such a broad range, it's a good challenge (most of the time I'm singing an octave below, but sometimes not).

So don't push it, but regular singing will broaden your range, and stabilise your voice too. Plus singing with other people (more so than just on your own) stimulates endorphins, makes you happy, and has been proven to make you live longer - find a choir and have some hide-amongst-others fun!

[Janet_Girl]

When I was younger, I was in a choir.  I sang Baritone.  But with my voice training I am now a Contralto.

[Alex201]

I'm the one being kicked out.


I couldn't carry a tune in a basket!

[Andy]

I always sang alto and so I still do (no T). Love my community chorus, and as I joked with a friend, I'm the only guy they let sing in the alto section. Have an ear for alto-type harmony parts after all these years, and I love my peeps in the alto section, so I think I'm stuck for now. When they are rehearsing the tenor parts, I can hum along and hit the notes fine, I just find that I don't have the instinct for how those parts are written harmonically.

[annette]

I'm only allowed to sing when the pubs are closing to make sure they are closed on the right time.
My singing voice is a mix of an old car and a crow with flew.

but talking is allright, I always admire people who can sing, I wish I could.

hugs
annette

[EmilyElizabeth]

In high school, I was assigned bass parts, but singing along with contralto's like Emily Haines, Katy Perry and Gaga has bumped my range up to about a contralto

[umop ap!sdn]

I've never sung in a choir but I've been a karaoke regular. My best song is If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow - it fits my range perfectly. I don't know what that would be called but if I knew I would vote that. I could also sing bass if I wanted to but I don't.