# Is it harder for a tall person to sing well? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106 "2011-10-28T18:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/1 "2011-10-28T18:30:14Z")
[This](http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PCU0RwDI6c4C&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=tall+people+receive+less+oxygen+to+the++tissues&source=bl&ots=syUO2kH5Re&sig=1uoiyf2pS04MgkJy95as91IInjs&hl=en&ei=1-6qTpH0I5OFhQfX5JHMDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false) states that tall people receive less oxygen to the tissues. Slower rates of breathing mean they intake less oxygen. I’m not familiar with the physiological aspects of singing. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/2 "2011-10-28T18:49:18Z")
I don’t know that much about singing but you are making a logical leap without giving a scientific reason linking two questions into one. The missing question is something like “Does baseline breathing affect singing ability?” Without knowing that, there isn’t any reason to ask about height and its correlation singing ability. Even then, there could be another advantage or disadvantage that being tall has on singing ability that we haven’t thought of. We know that some tall people are exceptional singers as well. David Hasselhoff for example is 6’4". ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/3 "2011-10-28T18:55:19Z")
According to your link, combined with your reasoning, fat people should be the worst singers. [Star](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JvCk7h5S_4c/R1A1m9Cfu7I/AAAAAAAAATo/l2P90-kDjxE/s1600-R/06pavarotti-600.jpg) [opera](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/covers/2009/8/15/1250360103940/Opera-singer-Deborah-Voig-001.jpg) singers are notorious for being fat. I think we can safely conclude that the effects of body type on oxygen uptake, as detailed in your link, do not have any significant effect on singing ability. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/4 "2011-10-28T21:53:16Z")
I think receiving less oxygen to the tissues is an endurance issue, correct? So it wouldn’t affect singing. Slower rates of breathing though, means the singer intakes less oxygen when pausing for breath, right? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/5 "2011-10-28T22:02:10Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I don’t know that much about singing but you are making a logical leap without giving a scientific reason linking two questions into one. The missing question is something like “Does baseline breathing affect singing ability?” Without knowing that, there isn’t any reason to ask about height and its correlation singing ability. Even then, there could be another advantage or disadvantage that being tall has on singing ability that we haven’t thought of. > > We know that some tall people are exceptional singers as well. David Hasselhoff for example is 6’4". Are you German? A better instance: Solomon Burke, 6’ 1’'. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/6 "2011-10-28T22:02:49Z")
Any tiny effect that height might potentially have on singing endurance is going to be swamped by the much larger effects of all sorts of other variables. Practice, exercising the lungs, is going to be one major factor. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/7 "2011-10-28T23:25:28Z")
I’m six foot five, and I sing tolerably well. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/8 "2011-10-28T23:54:47Z")
My partner is 6’10", and has a beautiful basso voice. I know another guy who’s about 6’8" and is one of the best singers I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/9 "2011-10-29T00:20:14Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > I think receiving less oxygen to the tissues is an endurance issue, correct? So it wouldn’t affect singing. Slower rates of breathing though, means the singer intakes less oxygen when pausing for breath, right? Thanks. Could someone scientifically minded look into this? As I said, I’m not familiar with the physiological aspects of singing. I think singing requires many muscles and is a form of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/10 "2011-10-29T00:25:26Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > According to your link, combined with your reasoning, fat people should be the worst singers. > > [Star](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JvCk7h5S_4c/R1A1m9Cfu7I/AAAAAAAAATo/l2P90-kDjxE/s1600-R/06pavarotti-600.jpg) [opera](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/covers/2009/8/15/1250360103940/Opera-singer-Deborah-Voig-001.jpg) singers are notorious for being fat. > > I think we can safely conclude that the effects of body type on oxygen uptake, as detailed in your link, do not have any significant effect on singing ability. You are making a logical leap without giving a scientific reason to link two facts. Those opera singers might actually have been BETTER if they’d been skinny. My god, think of the lost music. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/11 "2011-10-29T00:31:00Z")
I think you’re mistaking the ability to process oxygen with the ability to simply move air. Vocal cords don’t need oxygen to operate, just air. Lung capacity (not oxygenation) is what’s needed in cases of singing single notes for a long time, or singing many bars before needing to take a breath. In cases of athletic singers who sing/dance full concerts, oxygenation during dancing may be an issue for the physical effort, but as long as they can sing without panting for breath, all the singing portion needs is the movement of sufficient air. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/12 "2011-10-29T02:46:27Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > You are making a logical leap without giving a scientific reason to link two facts. Those opera singers might actually have been BETTER if they’d been skinny. My god, think of the lost music. But I am not arguing that being fat makes you a better singer, I am merely arguing that body type and its relation to oxygenation is not relevant to singing ability. I do not need to show a logical or causal connection when all I am providing is a counterexample (to the OP’s suggestion). That said, anecdotally at least there does appear to be a distinct correlation between operatic singing ability and fatness, which strongly suggests a causal connection. It may well be, however, that something about the opera-star lifestyle tends to lead to obesity, rather than that being fat (or of a body type predisposed to weight gain) makes you more likely to be a better singer. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/13 "2011-10-29T02:48:17Z")
They should be able to reach the high notes. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/14 "2011-10-29T03:15:13Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > But I am not arguing that being fat makes you a better singer, I am merely arguing that body type and its relation to oxygenation is not relevant to singing ability. I do not need to show a logical or causal connection when all I am providing is a counterexample (to the OP’s suggestion). And I am (somewhat facetiously) suggesting that those singers would have been better if they’d been skinny. > [@](#): > > That said, anecdotally at least there does appear to be a distinct correlation between operatic singing ability and fatness, which strongly suggests a causal connection. It may well be, however, that something about the opera-star lifestyle tends to lead to obesity, rather than that being fat (or of a body type predisposed to weight gain) makes you more likely to be a better singer. Lately there have been a lot of hunky tenors with rippling abs out of places like Poland. But I can’t really vouch for their singing skill. Where’s Le Ministre d’etc. when you need him? ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/15 "2011-10-29T12:50:50Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I think you’re mistaking the ability to process oxygen with the ability to simply move air. Vocal cords don’t need oxygen to operate, just air. Lung capacity (not oxygenation) is what’s needed in cases of singing single notes for a long time, or singing many bars before needing to take a breath. > > In cases of athletic singers who sing/dance full concerts, oxygenation during dancing may be an issue for the physical effort, but as long as they can sing without panting for breath, all the singing portion needs is the movement of sufficient air. Does singing not impact the diaphragm and other muscles? Again, reffering to the original post, I don’t know if lower muscular endurance is relevant. Obviously none of this relates to singing ability or technique. I just want to know if taller people are less able to hold a note. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/16 "2011-10-29T15:50:52Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > Again, reffering to the original post, I don’t know if lower muscular endurance is relevant. Obviously none of this relates to singing ability or technique. I just want to know if taller people are less able to hold a note. And again, as everyone keeps telling you (but you don’t seem to be willing to accept it), the answer to this question and to your original question is clearly **no**. Tallness is not a factor in singing ability. It is perhaps possible that if if two people were absolutely identical in everything conceivably relevant to singing ability except for their height - identical in other aspects of their anatomical endowment, in the amount of singing practice they have put in, and in all the other factors, psychological, physiological, etc., that might have a significant impact on singing ability - then, conceivably, the shorter person _might,_ for the reason you suggest, have a tiny advantage in how long they could hold a note. But those conditions are _never_ going to be met in practice, not even close. For all practical purposes, height and its effect on oxygenation capacity is totally irrelevant to both general singing ability and to note holding ability. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/17 "2011-10-29T17:20:22Z")
Okay, thanks all for your help. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/18 "2011-10-30T04:18:07Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > They should be able to reach the high notes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/19 "2011-10-30T07:13:41Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > But I am not arguing that being fat makes you a better singer, I am merely arguing that body type and its relation to oxygenation is not relevant to singing ability. I do not need to show a logical or causal connection when all I am providing is a counterexample (to the OP’s suggestion). > > That said, anecdotally at least there does appear to be a distinct correlation between operatic singing ability and fatness, which strongly suggests a causal connection. It may well be, however, that something about the opera-star lifestyle tends to lead to obesity, rather than that being fat (or of a body type predisposed to weight gain) makes you more likely to be a better singer. The general assumption is that being barrel chested is better, as you have more room for lung expansion and larger abdominal muscles. There’s also the idea that better vocal chords have some fatty tissue in them, making them smoother. I have no idea if these have any basis in fact Also, opera-style singing is definitely an endurance sport. That’s what separates bel canto from pop singing. The latter uses short bursts of energy, while the former requires a lot of training to be able to maintain the un-amplified intensity necessary to be heard. The invention of microphones is why modern music is so different. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-harder-for-a-tall-person-to-sing-well/601106/20 "2011-10-30T13:43:08Z")
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