Haley's Vocal Range

[kaypea]

For the record, for hs choral groups, Haley sang soprano not alto. [Still might be a mezzo-soprano which an opera term describing range, color, etc. BTW, It's evidently not uncommon for alto and mezzo-soprano to be used interchangably (but not technically accurate since it mixes two different terminologies-choir vs opera voice types). ETA: To add to the confusion, I think it's not uncommon for mezzo soprano voice types to be singing alto in choirs.]

Video of her singing in a choir group in HS, comment from a friend of hers (who posted the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...V1IRrmOt_o

loudxlaugh: just so you know, its the second soprano that you are hearing, not the alto, which is on the far right.
Denise Garcia: are there two seconds? or two altos? or did you guys make a 3rd soprano part..?
loudxlaugh: haley was the first, the two middle girls where seconds, then the far right is alto.

With the risk of beating a dead horse into the ground but to just try and make a point they may be calling those soprano parts because they're the highest parts in the arrangements but even the highest lead notes aren't up there with alot of the notes from the mezzos posted on here.

I've played the alto and tenor saxophones for quite a few years and I can tell without even getting out my horn-just from what I know I hear in my head that I could play all of the top notes in that arrangement in that key on the alto sax without going above the natural range of the instrument.And I can say the same thing about all of Haley's album and just about everything I've ever heard from her-whistle tones and her scatting with Irwin Mayfield in New Orleans excluded.

Haley does have an extended range that she uses sparingly for affect.Mariah-when she was younger probably had the most impressive actual range and probably could have sung alot of actual soprano parts.But that's not the range that probably 95% of popular music singing is in.

At any rate as others have pointed ot its not the actual range that matters its what you do with the notes and that's what makes Haley standout.

[NUG]

You're not beating a dead horse, this is interesting discussion to me, even though I know little of what you're talking about.

[30CamdenSquare]

Kaypea,

I don't think you're beating a dead horse. I'm still interested in talking about this.

I agree w/...

At any rate as others have pointed ot its not the actual range that matters its what you do with the notes and that's what makes Haley standout.

...this ^. What voice type a singer is doesn't have anything to do w/ how good of a singer they are. Annie Lennox & (hypothetical) Marge down the street, who can't even carry a tune, may both be contra-altos, but one's a great singer & the other is a terrible singer. We're just trying to learn something about Haley's voice.

It helps me to know that you're a saxophone player & are matching her voice up against those instruments, which I assume match up (at least fairly closely) w/ Baritone, Tenor, Alto, & Soprano voices. And it's helpful to know that Haley's voice matches up better w/ the Alto sax than the Soprano.

I just looked it up & there's a Mezzo-Soprano saxophone pitched a whole step above an Alto sax. So I assume that if there was (but there doesn't appear to be) a Contra-Alto saxophone it would be pitched a whole step below the Alto sax since there's a major 3rd difference between a Contra-Alto & Mezzo Soprano vocalist, so if that was the case, do you think the Mezzo-Soprano Sax or the theoretical Contra-Alto Sax would be a better match for playing Haley's vocal parts?

[midnightblues]

Haleys voice goes where she wants it to go. she can do a switch up in vocals in a in instant. J-lo said that about one of Haleys comp. songs.(you really got a hold on me)

[cherelann]

Ella Fitzgerald did many call back type performances, similar to what Haley did with Mayfield in New Orleans. I would love to hear Haley do this with the different saxophones and we would find we can't put our Haley in a corner...

[mercfan3]

Kaypea, I think alto sax and the vocal categorizations are different.

The alto sax range is Bb3 to F6, with concert range being C#3 to A5 - encompassing both the alto and mezzo vocal ranges. (As well as tenor)

Meanwhile the vocal alto range is typically F3 to F5
The Mezzo range is A3 to A5

Haley's live vocals, from what's been written down, are A3 to E6. Sure, she doesn't fit perfectly, but that's because her range is larger than two octaves.

But more importantly, Haley's voice is clearly more comfortable in the Mezzo..and even Soprano range. When Haley struggles, its in her lower register. When you categorize vocalists who have larger ranges, you have to look at where they are comfortable too.

Personally, I was always categorized as an alto for the exact opposite reason. I could sing higher notes, but if I am going to be pitchier..or even weaker..it's with those high notes. My voice rests in the lower register. (And even if Haley's sung lower than the A5, her voice is weaker the lower she goes.

[My Alter Ego]

Well a great deal of activity has transpired since I checked out last night, but since NUG doesn't think the horse is dead enough .....

Kaypea, I don't mean to "gang up" on you. I'm guessing that you have relative pitch (so do I). However, I suspect that you may be forgetting the difference between the keyed pitch (yes, I know that's not the correct way to phrase it) of the instruments you play (Eb on Alto and Bb on tenor). If I remember this correctly (and it's been a very long time since I've thought this way, so I very well might have it wrong), the notes that you play are respectively a major 6th and an octave and major second lower than it's corresponding note on the piano. But the notes Haley sings are the same as those on the piano -- i.e. her C4 is middle C, but for you, it's Eb (???) below the tone she sings. Does that make sense?

And, if it does, do you now see the difference between Haley being an alto versus Haley as soprano?

[midnightblues]

Piano keys gaaaa all I know is the circle of 5ths or sharps for playing in any key. It isn't the same is it

[My Alter Ego]

Piano keys gaaaa all I know is the circle of 5ths or sharps for playing in any key. It isn't the same is it

Not quite, MNB. But rest easy, good sir. A Bb4 (for example) on guitar will correspond to a Bb4 on the piano. Those "C" instruments (guitars, flutes, trombones [I think], there are others), don't have to think of transposing.

[NUG]

Haleys voice is darn good. Probably my favorite voice of all time.