Karen's Vocal Range Options

This thing has been bothering me for a long time, allthough I don't know why.

Does anyone know what was Karen's vocal range? I remember reading a really long time ago from some japanese (I think) site which had all of the Carpenters fanclub letters, that the lowest note she could hit was C under middle C. I also remember that her range was about 2½-3 octaves, but I'm not really sure.Unfotunately the site disappeared without a trace, so I could never check again how it really was and I was wondering if someone had some information about this?

Hi Anielka,

I'm no expert and could be totally wrong about this, but I think the lowest she could reach was G under middle C. I think I read that somewhere. All I know is I have the sheet music anthology for piano, and I looked through all the notes and there is no note under G under middle C.
Like that really low note in Solitaire "and every road that takes him, takes him dowwwwn", is G under middle C on the piano. I don't know for sure though what her range was. I don't think it was as much as 3 octaves, because on the sheet music also there is no note higher than B above middle C. So according to that it would be a little over an octave right?
I read that she was admired for the control she had over her range, but I don't know if her range was that wide...
You know, that question's been bothering me too, thanks for bringing it up! LOL (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/bowdown.gif)

Polarbear

Karen's range is from D below middle C to G above high C.

What are you talkin' about!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

What are you talkin' about!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Um... I think they mean her tone of voice or something when she sings. I'm a little confused myself! (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

LOL...a person's range is just how high or low their voice can go....

Like you know Karen's solo album, she's singing at the higher end of her range; whereas like in Solitaire most of the notes are in the lower end...

Sorry I can't explain it very well! You can test your range on the piano though, and find out if you're a contralto (like Karen) or a soprano (like Charlotte Church!) ...

Maybe someone else can explain it better? LOL

Polarbear (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/bowdown.gif)

LOL...a person's range is just how high or low their voice can go....

Like you know Karen's solo album, she's singing at the higher end of her range; whereas like in Solitaire most of the notes are in the lower end...

Sorry I can't explain it very well! You can test your range on the piano though, and find out if you're a contralto (like Karen) or a soprano (like Charlotte Church!) ...

Maybe someone else can explain it better? LOL

Polarbear (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/bowdown.gif)

Well, I get it a little better, thanks Polarbear! So it depends on how high or low someone could sing?

If you look at a piano... you have keys that go from low notes to high notes. So Karen could sing D below middle C to G above high C.

Here's a picture.... but I think the G above high C would be alittle further than that. Up an octeve (sp?) Hope this is right.


Keyboard with the range

Hope this helps or at least doesnt confuse further (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
Pamela

Wow, I didn't realize she could go that low.

Does anyone know of a song where she reaches D below middle C? I can't think of one.

Hey that keyboard is pretty cool, Pamela (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Polarbear

Just to make note...that isnt the whole keyboard....just middle C and a couple octives on both sides. (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/icon_note.gif)

Pamela

Here's a little more insight as to how one's vocal range is measured.
Karen's range has been Registered by Richard Carpenter as being D below middle C to G above high C.
This does not mean that Karen can not sing higher or lower than this range. A vocal range is the amount of notes you can reach with ease without any stress or strain. The first note you have to push or strain to achieve is considered out of your range.
I have heard some songs which Karen sang out of her range - most were on the solo album outtakes - the one's that weren't released such as "Jimmy Mack".
Karen was never really known for having an amazing range (although her range was somewhat impressive), she was more known for her breath control and unimitable style, and also for the way she could effortlessly go from her lowest octave to her highest in the same breath.
Annie Haslam who was the lead vocalist for the group Renaissance (they were around from 1970 to 1987) is registered with the guiness book of world Records as having the widest vocal range of any popular music artist. Annie has an amazing FIVE OCTAVE vocal range. That's twice the range Karen had.

If you look at a piano... you have keys that go from low notes to high notes.  So Karen could sing D below middle C to G above high C.

Here's a picture.... but I think the G above high C would be alittle further than that.  Up an octeve (sp?) Hope this is right.


Keyboard with the range

Hope this helps or at least doesnt confuse further  (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
Pamela

Thanks, Pamela! That pic helped out a lot! (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Thanks!

Here's a little more insight as to how one's vocal range is measured.
Karen's range has been Registered by Richard Carpenter as being D below middle C to G above high C.
This does not mean that Karen can not sing higher or lower than this range. A vocal range is the amount of notes you can reach with ease without any stress or strain. The first note you have to push or strain to achieve is considered out of your range.
I have heard some songs which Karen sang out of her range - most were on the solo album outtakes - the one's that weren't released such as "Jimmy Mack".
Karen was never really known for having an amazing range (although her range was somewhat impressive), she was more known for her breath control and unimitable style, and also for the way she could effortlessly go from her lowest octave to her highest in the same breath.
Annie Haslam who was the lead vocalist for the group Renaissance (they were around from 1970 to 1987) is registered with the guiness book of world Records as having the widest vocal range of any popular music artist. Annie has an amazing FIVE OCTAVE vocal range. That's twice the range Karen had.

Thanks too, RickHenry! That part about what you said, "A vocal range is the amount of notes you can reach with ease without any stress or strain," helped out tons! I get now! (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Here's a little more insight as to how one's vocal range is measured.
Karen's range has been Registered by Richard Carpenter as being D below middle C to G above high C.
This does not mean that Karen can not sing higher or lower than this range. A vocal range is the amount of notes you can reach with ease without any stress or strain. The first note you have to push or strain to achieve is considered out of your range.
I have heard some songs which Karen sang out of her range - most were on the solo album outtakes - the one's that weren't released such as "Jimmy Mack".
Karen was never really known for having an amazing range (although her range was somewhat impressive), she was more known for her breath control and unimitable style, and also for the way she could effortlessly go from her lowest octave to her highest in the same breath.
Annie Haslam who was the lead vocalist for the group Renaissance (they were around from 1970 to 1987) is registered with the guiness book of world Records as having the widest vocal range of any popular music artist. Annie has an amazing FIVE OCTAVE vocal range. That's twice the range Karen had.

That's really interesting, RickHenry...
Is there like an "average" range that most people have or something?
Do you know how they tell who's a contralto or a soprano and that kind of thing?

Cool! (IMG:http://www.leadsister.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

So could anyone tell just by listening, who is a C to G range?