What Part Should I Sing?

Finding your place in the choir

A typical adult mixed choir will have four main sections:

• Soprano
• Alto
• Tenor
• Bass

There can be other parts but these will be used most of the time. Where you fit depends on at least three factors.

1. Gender
2. Vocal Range
3. Vocal Timbre (the distinctive quality of your voice)

Ladies will be in either the soprano or alto section and men in either the tenor or bass section. I know of a few instances of a lady with a very low voice singing the tenor part mainly to help a under-sized tenor section but this is not typical or very desirable.

The singer's ability to produce quality sound at a given pitch will be a major factor in deciding where they belong.  Just because a singer can produce a high or low note is not in itself justification for placement in a particular section.  A better method is to identify the singer's "power range". This is the range of pitches a singer can produce strong, controlled, quality sound.  Singing a simple tune at a variety of starting pitches will help identify your "power range". 

• What notes sound full and relaxed?
•  Which are too low to sing with power?
•  Which are so high that you sound strained or unstable?

Once these questions have been answered, your place in the choir will be easy to determine. 

The character of the sound your voice produces will also be a factor in placing you in the choral group.  If you have a light clear voice you may need a high part. If however you have a full rich tone you might contribute well by singing a lower part.

It is important for you to keep an open mind about your part. Just because you are struggling to reach some of the higher notes or can not get much sound at all at the lower pitches does not mean you are in the wrong section. You probably just need some vocal instruction to help improve your useable range. If you have not been singing near the limits of your range it will be difficult to maintain control of your pitch and sound quality at first.  Try to keep a positive attitude while you strengthen your voice. Eventually your range will expand making all the notes in your part reachable.