# Singers with really small ranges?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 10, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653 "2012-12-10T23:54:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/21 "2012-12-11T13:53:22Z")
> [@Alessan](#):
>
> Johnny Cash.
That’s a good answer.
I always thought Jim Morrison sang within a very narrow spectrum too.
---
### Author:  [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/22 "2012-12-11T14:08:06Z")
Kid Rock seems to have a one note range. Then there’s me, but I never let a lack of talent stop me.
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/23 "2012-12-11T14:14:20Z")
I always thought Stevie Nicks had a narrow range.
---
### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/24 "2012-12-11T14:39:58Z")
Huge numbers of actors playing teenagers on TV in the 1950s were ordered to make records to cash in on the rock ‘n’ roll craze. But Ricky Nelson was an exception in that he could sing. Shelly Fabares and Dwyane Hickman were so bad that the producers had to cut together the finished songs out of dozens of pieces to get something in tune. Worked for her, not him. “Johnny Angel” is a great song. But it has “Glen Campbell and Carol Kaye on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums, and Darlene Love and the Blossoms on backup vocals.” I’m not sure how you’d work out any range for any of those fake singers.
---
### Author:  [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/25 "2012-12-11T15:59:07Z")
> [@gaffa](#):
>
> Two words: Lou Reed. As far as I can tell, Lou has a range of two notes. It’s like he’s speaking and shifting pitch on some words.
Lou Reed was the first person who came to mind when I read the thread title as well.
---
### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/26 "2012-12-11T16:11:54Z")
I don’t get the impression of very many different vocal notes by Neil Diamond, just changes of volume.
---
### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/27 "2012-12-11T16:20:53Z")
William Shatner 😉
---
### Author:  [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/28 "2012-12-11T18:55:12Z")
Frank Sinatra
I didn’t realize this until I was singing along with a CD of his greatest hits. His range is just about one octave.
---
### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/29 "2012-12-11T20:37:39Z")
Grace Slick has said that she had a range of about four notes, but in that range, she was fabulous.
---
### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/30 "2012-12-11T20:43:39Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> I don’t get the impression of very many different vocal notes by Neil Diamond, just changes of volume.
He never had enormous range, but today? It’s even worse. Unlike many aging singers who can no longer hit high notes, Neil can no longer hit low notes. Hence, he either shouts many of his songs or leads the fans in a sing-along.
---
### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/31 "2012-12-11T20:48:36Z")
I’ve only heard the few songs they repeat endlessly on the radio, but it seems like Adele has a really small range. She gets into the squeaky zone a lot.
---
### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/32 "2012-12-11T21:46:27Z")
Not what the OP is asking for, but I think it fits in the general discussion…
**Miles Davis** invented the “Cool” style of jazz mostly because of his limited chops at trumpet. He started playing in big bands when he was pretty young and destroyed his embouchure in the process (it didn’t develop properly, which is why most horn players do not start seriously playing until at least 13 or so). Because of his limited chops, he developed his own style of jazz that fit his limited speed and range on the horn… and thus, Cool Jazz was born.
---
### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/33 "2012-12-11T21:48:06Z")
> [@cher3](#):
>
> I’ve only heard the few songs they repeat endlessly on the radio, but it seems like Adele has a really small range. She gets into the squeaky zone a lot.
According to the forum linked to above, here’s what they [have on Adele](http://therangeplace.forummotions.com/t78-adele?highlight=adele). Someone else will have to say how this range compares to other singers.
> [@](#):
>
> Voice type: Alto
> Sung range: C3-B5
> Total range: C3-E6
>
> Significant high notes:
>
> E6 (“First Love”)
> B5 (“Melt My Heart to Stone”)
> E5 (“Someone Like You”)
> D5 (“Daydreamer”, “Set Fire to the Rain”, “I’ll Be Waiting”, “Someone Like You”)
> C♯5 (“Hometown Glory”, )
> C5 (“Skyfall”, “Set Fire to the Rain”, “Rolling in the Deep”, “One and Only”, “Take It All”)
>
> Significant low notes:
>
> C3 (“He Won’t Go”)
> C♯3 (“Rumour Has It”)
> D3 (“Right as Rain”, “First Love”, “Rumour Has It”, “I’ll Be Waiting”, “Melt My Heart to Stone”)
---
### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/34 "2012-12-11T21:49:25Z")
Elvis Presley? Undeniable star power but he never seemed that great of a singer to me, nor does his voice seem that rangey. But then I have a tin ear so what do I know?
---
### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/35 "2012-12-11T21:50:02Z")
> [@dataguy](#):
>
> Frank Sinatra
>
> I didn’t realize this until I was singing along with a CD of his greatest hits. His range is just about one octave.
[Sinatra:](http://therangeplace.forummotions.com/t666-frank-sinatra?highlight=sinatra)
> [@](#):
>
> Voice type: Baritone
> Vocal range: D2-G♯4
So that’s what, about 2 1/2 octaves?
---
### Author:  [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/36 "2012-12-11T22:20:45Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#):
>
> ISTR hearing that Ringo Starr has a very limited singing range.
Yup. With a Little Help From My Friends is famously written around his limited range.
I assume the other originals he did were, as well, but that’s the one I’ve seen cited repeatedly.
(As to the covers…Act Naturally, I think Ringo actually demonstrates a broader range than Buck Owens, who recorded it first…)
---
### Author:  [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/37 "2012-12-11T22:27:09Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#):
>
> [Sinatra:](http://therangeplace.forummotions.com/t666-frank-sinatra?highlight=sinatra)
>
> So that’s what, about 2 1/2 octaves?
Thanks for that link. I’m not arguing with the range cited, but I noticed that the only song that appears in both the list of significant high notes and the list significant low notes is Old Man River. I’m not familiar with his rendition, but now I will give it a listen.
Anyway, I think my impression of his limited range stems from the fact that in most of his songs he does tend to remain in the same general register throughout. Try singing along with him sometime.
---
### Author:  [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/38 "2012-12-11T22:32:59Z")
I read somewhere on the internet that Johnny Mathis’ smooth vocals are limited to one range, and quickly thinking about it, yeah, that seems about right. Mark Knopfler has a speaking style of singing similar to Dylan, and doesn’t seem to have a wide vocal range or use it much if he does have it. Along similar lines, maybe Tom Waits.
---
### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/39 "2012-12-11T22:33:55Z")
> [@dataguy](#):
>
> Anyway, I think my impression of his limited range stems from the fact that in most of his songs he does tend to remain in the same general register throughout. Try singing along with him sometime.
Yeah, I doubt he challenged himself a lot. I’m sure he liked to just stick to his comfort range.
I love singing along w/ Sinatra because of how he keeps it in that comfort zone, it’s right in my ballpark.
---
### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653/40 "2012-12-11T22:36:17Z")
> [@EmilyG](#):
>
> We all know that singers like Bobby McFerrin and Mariah Carey are known for their large vocal ranges, but are there any famous singers out there who have really small ranges?
>
> (Not sure if this belongs in GQ or Cafe Society.)
Just a mostly on-topic aside; for all the things Prince is known for, it surprises me that his vocal range isn’t one of them - [B1 to C#7 for his total range.](http://therangeplace.forummotions.com/t425-prince)
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-really-small-ranges/643653.md?page=3)