Find Your RangeIf you sing X, try Y — a karaoke pairing guide by vocal type.
The fastest way to bomb at karaoke is picking a song that's in the wrong key for your voice. The fastest way to crush it is picking one that sits right where you sing when you're not thinking about it. Here's how to find your bracket — and 30+ artist pairings so you always have a next song.
How to figure out your range (in 60 seconds)
- Pick one song you can sing along to comfortably from start to finish — no strain, no falsetto flip.
- Look up who sings it and find your section below. That's your home base.
- Try one of the "similar" artists in that section next time. You're borrowing a proven-safe key.
- If a song ever forces you to whisper the chorus or crack on the high note, the key is wrong — not your voice. Karaoke apps usually let you shift the key ±3; ask the host.
The ranges below are rough — plenty of great singers straddle two categories. Use them as a starting point, not a rulebook.
Bass & Low Baritone
roughly E2 – E4Deep, chesty, resonant. If you're most comfortable talking-singing in a low register and struggle with high choruses, this is you.
- Chris Stapleton (lower gears)
- Waylon Jennings
- Josh Turner
- Sturgill Simpson
Same conversational low-end delivery. Melodies sit in your speaking range.
- Nick Cave
- Tom Waits
- Bill Callahan
Half-sung, half-spoken. Character over notes — perfect if you don't want to belt.
- Isaac Hayes
- Lou Rawls
- Teddy Pendergrass
Smooth, low, sensual. The mic does the work when you get close.
High Baritone & Low Tenor
roughly A2 – A4The most common male range. You can hit rock choruses without falsetto but the highest notes of a Journey or Queen song will fight you.
- Tom Petty
- John Mellencamp
- Bob Seger
- Eddie Vedder
Bruce's grit lives right in high-baritone territory. All four sit in the same box.
- Chris Isaak
- Roy Orbison (mid-range songs)
- Dwight Yoakam
Warm baritone with occasional reaches. Croon-friendly melodies.
- Michael Bublé
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Tony Bennett
- Dean Martin
Classic crooner range. Phrasing matters more than power.
- Scott Stapp (Creed)
- Layne Staley
- Chris Cornell (lower songs)
That signature dark, chesty tone. Grunge-baritone playground.
Tenor
roughly C3 – C5You can hit the high choruses in rock and pop without cracking. This is the biggest karaoke-song bucket on earth.
- Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
- Steven Tyler
- Robert Plant
- Axl Rose (mid-range)
Big, theatrical tenor. If Bohemian Rhapsody sits right, these will too.
- Lou Gramm (Foreigner)
- Dennis DeYoung (Styx)
- Kevin Cronin (REO)
Arena-rock tenor. Melodies with those money high notes at the end of the chorus.
- Justin Timberlake
- Bruno Mars
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Same light tenor with easy falsetto flips. All four owe MJ their range.
- Chris Martin
- Matthew Bellamy (Muse, lower songs)
- Brandon Flowers
Emotive tenor that lives in the upper-middle register.
- The 1975's Matty Healy
- Alex Turner
- Julian Casablancas
Modern indie tenor. Room to sing-shout the big moments.
High Tenor & Countertenor
roughly D3 – F5+You've got the top. Falsetto is a real weapon, not a Hail Mary. You're the one people request 'Sweet Caroline' at, but you'd rather sing Prince.
- D'Angelo
- Miguel
- Frank Ocean (upper songs)
- Maxwell
Falsetto acrobatics with a strong chest voice underneath.
- Sam Smith
- Charlie Puth
- Shawn Mendes
- Justin Bieber
Modern pop's high-tenor lane. Falsetto choruses over pop hooks.
- Chris Cornell (upper songs)
- Matt Bellamy (Muse)
- Thom Yorke
Massive range and dynamic control. Not easy — but if you can do it, do it.
Contralto & Low Alto
roughly E3 – E5Rich, warm, husky. You sound better in the lower part of a song than the chorus. Ballads over belters.
- Amy Winehouse
- Duffy
- Norah Jones
- Lana Del Rey (upper songs)
That smoky low-mid range that turns rooms silent.
- Stevie Nicks
- Bonnie Tyler
- Melissa Etheridge
Husky, chesty alto. Rock ballads sit right where you live.
- Sade
- Anita Baker
- Toni Braxton
Effortless-sounding low alto. Melody-first, no belting required.
- Billie Eilish
- Halsey (lower songs)
- Lorde
Modern low-alto pop. Vibe over volume.
Mezzo & High Alto
roughly G3 – G5The workhorse female range — pop belters live here. You can go loud without your voice getting thin.
- Pink
- Demi Lovato
- Miley Cyrus
- Jessie J
Full-voice pop belters with a killer chorus payoff.
- Rihanna
- Alicia Keys
- Jazmine Sullivan
- H.E.R.
Powerful mezzo with soul-runs. Room to show off if you want.
- Carrie Underwood (mid-range songs)
- Faith Hill
- Martina McBride
- Miranda Lambert
Country-pop mezzos. Choruses everyone knows.
- Meredith Brooks
- Fiona Apple
- Sheryl Crow
'90s alt-rock mezzo. Grit and range without operatic highs.
Soprano
roughly C4 – C6Bright and high. You can float over a chorus where most singers strain. Diva showstoppers are your bracket.
- Mariah Carey (mid-range songs)
- Celine Dion
- Christina Aguilera
- Ariana Grande
The 'I Will Always Love You' bracket. If the key change doesn't scare you, welcome home.
- Mariah Carey
- Tori Kelly
- Camila Cabello (upper songs)
High soprano with whistle-tone reaches for the brave.
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Gracie Abrams
- Kacey Musgraves
Sweet, clean, high-mid soprano. Melody-driven pop, easy to sing-along.
- Reba McEntire
- Loretta Lynn
- Emmylou Harris
Bright country soprano. Storytelling over acrobatics.
Now pick a banger
Head over to our other guide for 50 crowd-tested picks organized by vibe — anthems, duets, throwbacks, showstoppers, and more.