The bass vocal range is about E2 to C4, which is 82.4 Hz to 261.6 Hz. The bass is the lowest common singing voice, an adult male voice that sings the bottom line of four-part choral music and gives the harmony its foundation.
Yellow keys: the New Harvard Dictionary range. Bars: each source's range. The black dot marks middle C (C4).
Pure tones at the reference notes (E2 to C4). Start with your volume low.
Bass range in different sources
| Source | Range | Frequency | Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Harvard Dictionary of Music | E2 to C4 | 82.4 – 261.6 Hz | 20 semitones |
| Grove Music Online | F2 to E4 | 87.3 – 329.6 Hz | 23 semitones |
There is no official standard for voice ranges; references differ by a few notes. New Harvard Dictionary of Music and Grove Music Online ranges as listed by Yale University Library (music cataloging); Lumen Learning, "Vocal Types and Ranges". Frequencies assume A4 = 440 Hz.
What is a bass?
The bass is the lowest common singing voice, an adult male voice that sings the bottom line of four-part choral music and gives the harmony its foundation.
A bass's range lies roughly from E2 up to about C4 or E4. The lowest notes are felt as much as heard, and a microphone or room with weak bass can make them sound thin; our bass test checks the playback side of that.
Some basses, called basso profondo or 'deep basses', sing well below E2. Those notes are outside the reference ranges, and singers who reach them are uncommon.
Bass and the neighbouring voices
| Voice | Range | Notes shared with bass |
|---|---|---|
| Baritone | G2 to E4 | G2 to C4 (18 notes) |
Because neighbouring ranges overlap, range alone cannot settle your voice type. Where your voice sounds best and how it changes between low and high notes matter as much. A voice teacher can listen for those.
In a choir
Sings the bass (B) part, the bottom line of SATB music. Choral music is usually written for four parts, labelled SATB: soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
See every voice type side by side on the vocal ranges chart, or take the full vocal range test.
Common questions
What is the lowest note a bass can sing?
Reference ranges put the bottom of the bass voice at E2 (New Harvard Dictionary) or F2 (Grove). Some deep basses sing lower.
Why can't the test hear my lowest notes?
Very low notes are quiet and many laptop and phone microphones pick them up poorly. Sing a little louder, move closer, and keep Processing off. The test listens down to about 60 Hz (just below B1).
Am I a bass or a baritone?
If notes below G2 come easily and your voice sounds richest at the bottom, bass is the closer match. Compare your result with both ranges on the keyboard above.
Last reviewed 14 November 2026 by Sri Murugan Systems. Found a mistake? Tell us.