Vocal Range Test for Singing Teachers

This page explains how to use it in a lesson, with three short lesson outlines you can copy.

How can a singing teacher use the vocal range test?

Find a starting point for voice type. Ask the student to press Start the test, sing their lowest comfortable note and then their highest. The result shows both notes, the range in octaves and semitones, and the closest voice type. Choose Guided (2 steps) for a calm first try, or Slide freely if the student is happy to glide through their range.

Treat the voice type as a conversation starter, not a verdict. Range alone does not decide voice type. Ranges overlap, and many voices fall between two types. Teachers also listen for tessitura (where the voice is most comfortable), timbre and where the voice changes register. The test says "most likely" for this reason. For reference, the typical ranges the test uses are:

Other sources give slightly different limits. The vocal range chart shows the extremes and an alternative table.

Track progress over time. After the test, press Save range on this device and the student's lowest and highest note are saved in the browser on that device, so you can compare today's result with the last one in lesson mode. If you teach on several devices, or want a record outside the browser, press Save as image after the test and keep the picture with your lesson notes.

Show the note on the projector. Lesson mode shows the note being sung, large and in real time, so a student at the back of the room can read it. It is useful for pitch matching, for showing a student whether a note is drifting flat, and for group warm-ups. The pitch detector shows the same live note together with the frequency and how many cents sharp or flat it is.

Run warm-ups and scales. Lesson mode includes warm-ups and scales: a reference tone plays, the student matches it, and the screen shows the note they are singing. You can lead the exercise while the screen does the checking.

Is it free and private enough for lessons?

Yes. There is no sign-up, no account and nothing to install.

• No recordings. The sound from the microphone is analysed live in the browser to find the pitch, and then it is discarded. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
• No student data on a server. The saved range stays in the browser on the device you used. It is not sent to us or to anyone else.
• No cookies. The site counts page views with Cloudflare Web Analytics, which does not use cookies and does not identify individual visitors.
• The microphone switches off when you stop the test or leave the page.

Read the full privacy page if your school or studio needs it.

It works in current browsers on laptops, tablets and phones. The browser asks for permission to use the microphone the first time. A headset or a microphone close to the singer in a quiet room gives the cleanest result. If the test does not hear a quiet student, raise the Sensitivity slider.

Three lesson outlines you can use

1. First lesson: find the range (about 20 minutes)

1. Warm up (5 min). Gentle humming and easy sirens in a comfortable part of the voice. Do not go to the edges yet.
2. Explain the test (2 min). Tell the student it shows a range and a likely voice type, and that you will decide together over the coming lessons.
3. Run the test (5 min). Press Start the test, choose Guided (2 steps), and ask the student to hold each note steadily for about two seconds. Run it twice and keep the more relaxed result.
4. Talk about the result (5 min). Look at the notes on the vocal range chart. Ask where the voice felt easiest. That comfortable middle often tells you more than the top note.
5. Save it (1 min). Press Save range on this device (you can type the student's name), or press Save as image.
6. Cool down (2 min). A few easy hums in the middle of the range.

2. Ten-minute warm-up on the projector

1. Breath and hum (2 min). Hum on a comfortable note while the class watches the note on the screen stay steady.
2. Match the reference tone (3 min). Start a warm-up in lesson mode. A reference tone plays, and students match it. The screen marks each note as hit, near or miss. Watch it together and adjust.
3. Scales (3 min). Run a short scale in a comfortable key, then move it up or down a step. Stop before anyone strains.
4. Slides (2 min). Easy sirens from low to high and back, using the live note on the screen to show how smoothly the voice moves.

3. Progress check once a term (about 10 minutes)

1. Warm up first (3 min). Compare like with like: always test a warmed-up voice at a similar time of day.
2. Re-test (4 min). Run the test the same way as last time, with the same mode and the same rule for falsetto.
3. Compare (3 min). Look at the new lowest and highest notes next to the saved ones. Talk about control and comfort as well as the numbers. A steadier note matters more than one extra note at the top.

If a student is tired, ill or hoarse, skip the test that day. A tired voice gives a smaller range, and pushing for notes can strain it. For more on testing safely, see how to find your vocal range.