Alto singers have a low voice and are usually comfortable singing rich and open notes. The “chest voice” feel of this vocal range is not commonly seen in mainstream pop songs, but there are still plenty of great songs to choose from.
Here are some great songs to get started with.
Contents
- 1. Bluebird – Sara Bareilles
- 2. Bound to You – Christina Aguilera
- 3. Someone Like You – Adele
- 4. My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow
- 5. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
- 6. Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
- 7. Because of You – Kelly Clarkson
- 8. If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
- 9. Rainy Days and Mondays – Karen Carpenter
- 10. Glitter in the Air – Pink
- Summary
1. Bluebird – Sara Bareilles
“Bluebird” is a song written by Sara Bareilles for her album ‘Kaleidoscope Heart’ of upbeat, slow-ballads and piano melody tracks.
Sara sings “Bluebird” in the G3–E5 vocal range with a warm voice. Her jazzy voice compliments the piano well and makes the song’s progression catchy. The song is easy to sing due to its slow nature.
2. Bound to You – Christina Aguilera
“Bound to You” is a song written by Christina Aguilera, Sia Furler, and Samuel Dixon for the movie ‘Burlesque’. The pop song was well received by critics and was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards.
The song is sung in the E3–E5 vocal range. Christina’s voice on the track has a resonance that is commonly heard in alto singers. “Bound to You” has a good melody to sing along to and features Christina’s powerful vocals that are fun to vocalize with.
3. Someone Like You – Adele
“Someone Like You” is a pop song written by Adele Adkins and Dan Wilson for the album ‘21’. Upon its release, the song became a worldwide success and was one of the best-selling singles of all time. The enticing vocals of Adele are accompanied by a slow tempo beat.
The ballad features a vocal range of F#3–E5, making Adele’s’ nuanced voice stand out. The melancholy lyrics paired with the piano make this a good song for alto singers to try to sing.
4. My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow
“My Favorite Mistake” is a song written by Sheryl Crow and Jeff Trott for the album ‘The Globe Sessions’. The genre of the song is rock and blues-rock. It was met with critical acclaim upon its release and became a top-charting single. The song is simplistic with minimal musical arrangements.
With a vocal range of G3–B4, Sheryl’s mellow voice makes this song easy to sing along to. The rock melody and charming lyrics add to the personal feel of the song while also adding depth to the singer’s voice.
5. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
“Back to Black” is a song written by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson for the album of the same name. The song was critically acclaimed for its composition which was reminiscent of 1960s music. The signature song combines Amy’s trademark deep voice with soulful lyrics.
The soul genre song features a vocal range varying between G3–G4. The rhythm of “‘Back to Black”’ is simple to follow for singers. The old school song contains a catchy sound and beat which makes it exciting for alto singers to sing.
6. Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
“Million Reasons” was written by Stefani Germanotta, Hillary Lindsey, and Mark Ronson for Lady Gaga’s album ‘Joanne’. The song peaked in charts across the world and became one of Gaga’s most popular songs.
The pop/country song features touching lyrics accompanied by Lady Gaga’s dark and full voice. “Million Reasons” contains a vocal range that varies between G3–D5. The emotionally vulnerable lyrics and melody of the song make it a great fit for alto singers who want to practice songs with depth.
7. Because of You – Kelly Clarkson
“Because of You” is a song written by Kelly Clarkson, David Hodges, and Ben Moody for the album ‘Breakaway’. The song was successful worldwide and received critical acclaim. It features touching lyrics matched with a piano ballad instrumental.
Kelly’s vocal range on the song varies between G#3–F5. Her expressive and powerful voice is met with a moderate tempo in comparison to most alto songs. This makes it a unique song for alto singers to try.
8. If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
“If I Ain’t Got You” is a song written by Alicia Keys for her album ‘The Diary of Alicia Keys’. The song consists of R&B, soul, and jazz influences. Upon its release, the song was an instant success, peaking at the top of the charts.
Alicia’s vocal range varies between D3–D5 in this song. Her expressive and soulful voice adds depth and range. The song is relatively easy to sing although it contains a few vocal belting notes which may be difficult for some alto singers to sing.
9. Rainy Days and Mondays – Karen Carpenter
Written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols for the album ‘Carpenters’, “Rainy Days and Mondays” is a soft rock song that was an instant success upon its release.
The song features notes including G3, B♭4, G#4, and E♭3. Karen’s warm and rich voice makes the lyrics of the song stand out and relate to the listener. The song is easy to sing for alto singers.
10. Glitter in the Air – Pink
This pop ballad song was written by Pink and Billy Mann for the album ‘Funhouse’. Featuring a vocal range of B♭4–F3, “Glitter in the Air” was praised for Pink’s vocal performance.
The raw vocals of Pink are accompanied by a piano in this ballad and the powerful lyrics make the song an impactful one for alto singers to try singing.
Summary
Alto singers have diverse voices that can easily be extended to cover a variety of musical genres with practice. Although it isn’t the preferred voice for most mainstream songs, alto singers can still find compelling songs to add to their repertoire.
