Top 10 Surprising Answers to the Question "Who Has a Bigger Vocal Range?"

Vocal range is something objective and you can measure it - you need the lowest and the highest note a singer ever hit taken from the songs where s/he hit them. Then you count the octaves and notes.

But the perception of the vocal range can be subjective and can be terribly wrong. Most of the comments on the music lists are based on subjective perceptions, misconceptions or urban myths and legends.

Misconceptions:
1) Many people think that the range is the highest note a singer can hit - no, it's the distance between the highest AND the lowest note.
2) Some other guys think that a big range means high voice - again, it's wrong. Lowest notes are taken into account to determine the range.

One more thing: range is only one of the aspects to evaluate singers and not always singers with the bigger ranges are also the better singers. There are other things to compare, such as power, control, switches, runs, and so on.
The Top Ten
1 Dimash Kudaibergen or Mariah Carey? - Dimash Kudaibergen

Dimash: 6 octaves and 3 notes, up to D8 (as heard so far).

2 Mariah Carey or Axl Rose? - Axl Rose

Mariah Carey and Axl Rose both have high vocal ranges.

Cool! I learned another new thing today! Great list!

3 Luciano Pavarotti or James Hetfield? - James Hetfield

Luciano Pavarotti: 2 octaves, 2-1/2 notes (from C#3 to F5).
James Hetfield: 3 octaves, 3 notes (from C2 to F5).

You see that the highest note both hit is the same - F5. But this note sounds much better when Pavarotti sings it. On the other hand, James Hetfield can sing a whole octave lower than Pavarotti.

This one demonstrates that vocal range is just one small part of singing ability.

I like James Hetfield's singing, but Pavarotti is the consensus greatest male singer of all time.

Luciano Pavarotti is the best and greatest male singer of all time, bar none.

4 Whitney Houston or Dave Mustaine? - Dave Mustaine

Now this is a truly shocking one. One of the best singers ever compared to a singer who admitted himself that he was not particularly good.

5 Jon Bon Jovi or Freddie Mercury? - Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi sings well, but Freddie Mercury has a more powerful voice.

6 Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley? - Elvis Presley

This one shocked me the most. I didn't realize how limited MJ's voice is beyond the high register.

7 Billy Joe Armstrong or Chad Kroeger? - Chad Kroeger

Billie Joe Armstrong has an amazing voice and a distinctive roar that is perfect for what he plays. He might not have the best vocal range, but his distinctive voice sets him apart as an amazing vocalist.

8 Tom Araya or Chester Bennington? - Tom Araya
9 Robert Plant or Ian Gillan? - Ian Gillan
10 Luciano Pavarotti or Freddie Mercury? - Freddie Mercury

Pavarotti is great, but Mercury is my favorite.

The Contenders
11 Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift? - Justin Bieber
12 David Gilmour or Roger Waters? - Roger Waters
13 Justin Bieber or Johnny Cash? - Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber has a 3-octave vocal range?

14 Mariah Carey or Corey Taylor? - Corey Taylor
15 Rob Halford or David Lee Roth? - David Lee Roth
16 Michael Kiske or Kai Hansen? - Kai Hansen
17 Matt Bellamy or Phil Anselmo? - Phil Anselmo
18 King Diamond or Paul McCartney? - Paul McCartney
19 Corey Taylor or Meghan Trainor? - Corey Taylor
20 Chester Bennington or Chad Kroeger? - Chad Kroeger

I personally think Chester is/was (RIP) pretty overrated. And Chad? Well, he's a country version of Kurt Cobain who tries to be metal and sometimes succeeds.

21 James Hetfield or Dave Mustaine? - James Hetfield
22 Jack Black or Frank Sinatra? - Jack Black

Jack Black: a very funny comedian with some singing ability.

Frank Sinatra: possibly the greatest ever non-operatic singer.

23 Axl Rose or Corey Taylor? - Corey Taylor
24 Bruce Dickinson or Hansi Kürsch? - Hansi Kürsch
25 Hansi Kürsch or Michael Kiske? - Hansi Kürsch
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