The tenor vocal range is about B2 to G4, which is 123.5 Hz to 392.0 Hz. The tenor is the highest common adult male voice. In four-part choral music it sings the third line from the top, above the basses and below the altos.
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 (B2 to G4). Start with your volume low.
Tenor range in different sources
| Source | Range | Frequency | Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Harvard Dictionary of Music | B2 to G4 | 123.5 – 392.0 Hz | 20 semitones |
| Grove Music Online | C3 to A4 | 130.8 – 440.0 Hz | 21 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 tenor?
The tenor is the highest common adult male voice. In four-part choral music it sings the third line from the top, above the basses and below the altos.
A tenor's range lies roughly from C3 (an octave below middle C) up to about A4, and it is the bright upper end that marks the voice out. In opera the tenor is usually the hero or young lover. In pop, rock and musical theatre many lead male singers sit in the tenor range.
Tenors often sing their top notes in a blended or 'mixed' voice, and can go higher still in falsetto. Our test counts any note you can hold steadily, so test once in your full voice and once with falsetto if you want to see both.
Tenor and the neighbouring voices
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 tenor (T) part, the third line from the top in 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 a tenor's vocal range?
Reference ranges put the tenor at about B2 to G4 (New Harvard Dictionary) or roughly C3 to A4 (Grove). Many trained tenors go higher in their top range or falsetto.
Am I a tenor or a baritone?
The ranges overlap from B2 to E4. If notes above E4 feel easy and your voice sounds brightest at the top, tenor is the closer match; if your best notes are in the middle and the top is a strain, baritone is likelier.
What is a 'tenor high C'?
C5, one octave above middle C. It is above the reference tenor ranges and is famous precisely because few tenors can sing it in full voice.
Last reviewed 14 November 2026 by Sri Murugan Systems. Found a mistake? Tell us.