Vocal Type: Mezzo-soprano
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Range: 3.5 G2- E6 (approx)
Longest Note: 5 seconds ("old landmark")
Vocal Pluses: Powerful, passionate voice, which is grounded in the Gospel tradition. Both a technical and an emotive singer, Aretha Franklin is able to sing complex vocal runs, that can span the top of her range right down to the bottom, as well as hold notes for lengths of time with ease.
Aretha Franklin has a well connected range, that appears to sound easily accessible both at the top and the bottom. The lower range is thick and weighty with a dark colouring and a slightly smoky timbre. The midrange begins to become more nasal, and lighter as it ascends into the belting range.
The belting range is incredibly elastic and powerful, having been known to hit a D6 when mixed with its head voice [listen here]. This part of the range is characterful and easily attributable to Aretha Franklin, due in part to its quick vibrato and nasal tone. Though her voice becomes lighter as its frequency increases, it still retains its resonance and power up into its top reaches. Her flexibility and ease in this part of the range is almost unparalleled.
Vocal Negatives: The voice has become more nasal as she has aged which has lessened the power, and quality of the higher notes.
I always thought that Aretha was overrated. Just my personal opinion. I always preferred Etta James, or Gladys Knight.
ReplyDeleteAretha can easily hit a D6? It's what she's famous for - her D6 "belt" (obviously using mixed voice). Certainly higher than a B5!
ReplyDeleteOkay, Aretha can belt (D6) she did it live! oh and her highest note is an (E6) once again Live with Ray Charles! so her range is (G2-E6) 3 octaves, and 6 notes.
ReplyDeleteThe whole profile has now been updated! Whoopee!
ReplyDeleteI think she's a soprano . I don't think that a mezzo can belt those A5 and B5 notes so easly like she does .
ReplyDeleteVocal range isnot only determined by the highest note that a singer can reach. It is also defined by the base note.
ReplyDeleteThat D6 is a C#6.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'm the only one who heard it was a C#6 and not a D6 .. :)
ReplyDeleteIt started off as a D6 but slid down into a C#6...None the less I'm impressed. The highest chest note I can hit is F5 soo and I have to mix my voice to get that high anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe note didn't slide down though, it slid UP in pitch. it went C6-C#6. I proved it a while back on youtube by playing a C#6 for several seconds while Aretha sang and she never went above the C#6. Belting a C#6 is plenty impressive though.
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