The mezzo-soprano vocal range is about A3 to F5, which is 220.0 Hz to 698.5 Hz. A mezzo-soprano is the middle female voice, lying between soprano and alto. Mezzo means 'middle' in Italian. Compared with a soprano, a mezzo usually has a heavier, darker tone and sounds strongest a little lower.
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 (A3 to F5). Start with your volume low.
Mezzo-soprano range in different sources
| Source | Range | Frequency | Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Harvard Dictionary of Music | A3 to F5 | 220.0 – 698.5 Hz | 20 semitones |
| Grove Music Online | A3 to F♯5 | 220.0 – 740.0 Hz | 21 semitones |
| Lumen Learning music textbook | A3 to A5 | 220.0 – 880.0 Hz | 24 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 mezzo-soprano?
A mezzo-soprano is the middle female voice, lying between soprano and alto. Mezzo means 'middle' in Italian. Compared with a soprano, a mezzo usually has a heavier, darker tone and sounds strongest a little lower.
The mezzo range overlaps both neighbours: many mezzos can sing most soprano notes, and many reach almost as low as an alto. What sets the voice apart is where it sounds best, its tessitura, and its warmer colour in the middle and lower notes.
Mezzo-soprano in choirs and opera
Choral music is usually written in four parts (SATB) with no separate mezzo line, so a mezzo sings either the soprano or the alto part, depending on what the choir needs. In opera, mezzos often sing older women, villains and 'trouser roles', where a woman plays a young man.
Mezzo-soprano and the neighbouring voices
| Voice | Range | Notes shared with mezzo-soprano |
|---|---|---|
| Alto | F3 to D5 | A3 to D5 (18 notes) |
| Soprano | C4 to A5 | C4 to F5 (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
No separate part in SATB music: a mezzo sings soprano or alto, depending on the choir. 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 a mezzo-soprano?
A mezzo-soprano is a female voice between soprano and alto. Its range is roughly A3 to F5, and it usually has a darker, fuller tone than a soprano.
Am I a mezzo-soprano or an alto?
If you sing comfortably above D5 and your voice feels strongest in the middle of the staff, mezzo is the closer match. If your best notes are lower and the top feels strained, you are more likely an alto.
Is mezzo-soprano rarer than soprano?
We do not have a reliable source on how common each voice type is, so we will not guess. Range tests and a voice teacher will tell you more about your own voice than population figures would.
Last reviewed 14 November 2026 by Sri Murugan Systems. Found a mistake? Tell us.