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
Mariah Carey and Axl Rose both have high vocal ranges.
Cool! I learned another new thing today! Great list!
Mariah Carey: 4 octaves, 6-1/2 notes (from G#2 to G7)
Axl Rose: 5 octaves, 2-1/2 notes (from F1 to Bb6)
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.
Now this is a truly shocking one. One of best singers ever compared to a singer who admitted himself that he was not particularly good.
Whitney Houston: 2 octaves, 4 notes (C#3 to G#5)
Dave Mustaine: 2 octaves, 6-1/2 notes (E2 to Eb5)
Jon Bon Jovi: 4 octaves, 2-1/2 notes (from E2 to G#6)
Freddie Mercury: 4 octaves (from F2 to F6)
Jon Bon Jovi sings good, but, Freddie Mercury has a more powerful voice.
This one shocked me the most. I didn't realize how limited MJ's voice is beyond the high register.
Michael Jackson: 3 octaves, 4 notes (F#2 to C#6)
Elvis Presley: 4 octaves, 1 note (G1 to A5)
That’s not the most surprising. Elvis is the king of rock n roll! Rock singers have higher vocal ranges than pop singers.
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.
Green Day actually is so much worse, than Nickelback. It didn't surprise me at all, Chad is a godly vocalist compared to Armstrong, which has an annoying forgettable voice. Shame.
Chad Kroeger: 3 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
Billie Joe Armstrong: 2 octaves, 6-1/2 notes
This doesn't surprise me because Araya sings pretty deep (and clean) in the Black Sabbath cover Hand of Doom while he also screams in a high voice in many Slayer songs.
Tom Araya (Slayer): 4 octaves (from C#2 to C#6)
Chester Bennington (Linkin Park): 3 octaves (from G#2 to G#5)
Luciano Pavarotti: 2 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
Freddie Mercury: 4 octaves
Pavarotti is great, but, Mercury is my favourite.
Dimash - 6 octaves and 3 notes, up to D8 (as heard so far).
Damn his vocal range is insane! Even better than Mike Patton and that says something.
Dimash has more than an octave more than Mariah 😊
Both have a gigantic range, but Dimash's range (A1 - D8, 6 octaves and 5 semitones so far) is more than an octave bigger than Mariah's
Didn't suprise me at all from the way Gillan sings you can anderstand he is way more better range than Plant.
Robert Plant: 3 octaves, 5-1/2 notes
Ian Gillan: 4 octaves
The Contenders
But they are auto tuned, especially the Beaver man.
Significant difference - a whole octave:
Justin Bieber: 3 octaves, 1/2 note
Taylor Swift: 2 octaves, 1-1/2 notes
I'll be honest, I'm not very surprised. Roger Waters frequently jumps from his lower register to his higher register. The only problem is that his voice has always been untrained, meaning that it doesn't always sound pleasant.
That's 100% true. He had range but had not vocal skills/technique, as you said - untrained voice.
Roger Waters range is almost 5 octaves: 4 octaves, 6-1/2 notes
Justin Bieber: 3 octaves, 1/2 note
Johnny Cash: 2 octaves, 5-1/2 notes
Ummm...what? Johnny Cash had WAY more than 2 octaves 5 notes. A1-G5 is just under 4 octaves.
Justin Bieber has a 3 octaves vocal range?
No! This must be a joke!
Michael Kiske: 3 octaves, 3 notes (E2 to A5)
Kai Hansen: 4 octaves (C#2 to C#6)
Not too surprising. Anselmo showcases a great range in his singing.
Matt Bellamy: 3 octaves, 2 notes (G2 to B5)
Phil Anselmo: 4 octaves, 1/2 note (A1 to Bb5)
This doesn't surprise me since I don't know who the other guy is. Lol
Chester Bennington: 3 octaves
Chad Kroeger: 3 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
James Hetfield
James Hetfield
Jack Black- a very funny comedian with some singing ability.
Frank Sinatra- possibly the greatest ever non-operatic singer.
Jack Black : 3 octaves, 6 notes
Frank Sinatra: 2 octaves, 3-1/2 notes
This one suprised me?
David Lee Roth's got 5 octaves, 3 notes. But he's known for not using it
This one doesn't surprise me.
This isn’t surprising at all.
Mariah Carey: 4 octaves, 6-1/2 notes (from G#2 to G7)
Corey Taylor: 5 octaves, 5-1/2 notes (from Eb1 to C7)
I though axl had the biggest vocal range after mike
What! I am surprised!
Thanks for the info
@zxm - haha, the list title is "surprising answers"!
Here are the 5 guys with 5+ octaves:
1. Mike Patton - 6 octaves, 1/2 note (Eb1 to E7)
2. Corey Taylor - 5 octaves, 5-1/2 notes (Eb1 to C7)
3. David Lee Roth - 5 octaves, 3 notes (E1 to A6)
4. Axl Rose - 5 octaves, 2-1/2 notes (F1 to Bb6)
5. Ville Valo - 5 octaves, 1/2 notes (C1 to C#6)
Update 2019: #1 is Dimash Kudaibergen, 6 octaves and 3 notes