The

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

singing voice has a vocal range that lies around the second E below

middle C C or Do is the first note and semitone of the C major scale, the third note of the A minor scale (the relative minor of C major), and the fourth note (G, A, B, C) of the Guidonian hand, commonly pitched around 261.63 Hz. The actual frequen ...

to the E above middle C (i.e., E₂–E₄).; ''The Oxford Dictionary of Music'' gives E₂–E₄/F₄ As with the

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

singing voice being the rarest female

voice type A voice type is a group of voices with similar vocal ranges, capable of singing in a similar tessitura, and with similar vocal transition points ('' passaggi''). Voice classification is most strongly associated with European classical music, t ...

, the bass voice is the rarest for males, and has the lowest

vocal range Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...

of all voice types. However, the bass voice is determined not only by its vocal range, but also by its timbre, which tends to be darker than that of a

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

voice. The term ''bass'' was developed in relation to classical and

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

tic voices, where the classification is based not merely on the singer's vocal range but also on the tessitura and timbre of the voice. For classical and operatic singers, their voice type determines the roles they will sing and is a primary method of categorization. In non-classical music, singers are primarily defined by their genre and their gender and not by their vocal range.Axelrod, Alan
''The complete idiot's guide to jazz''
Alpha Books, 1999, pp. 68–69 (). See also Tarasti, Eero
''Signs of music: a guide to musical semiotics''
Walter de Gruyter, 2002, pp. 157–178 () When the terms ''

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

'', ''

mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano or mezzo (; ; meaning "half soprano") is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A below middle C ...

'', ''contralto'', ''

tenor A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...

'', ''

'', and ''bass'' are used as descriptors of non-classical voices, they are applied more loosely than they would be to those of classical singers and generally refer only to the singer's perceived vocal range. The following is a list of singers in

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

, and

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

who have been described as basses.

List of names

Gallery

File:Bob Bingham 1973.png, Bob Bingham File:GregBrown_FalconRidge-2004.jpg, Greg Brown File:Leonard Cohen, 1988 01.jpg, Leonard Cohen File:Brian Cole (The Association).png, Brian Cole File:Tennessee Ernie Ford 1957.JPG, Tennessee Ernie Ford File:Melvin Franklin.jpg,

Melvin Franklin David Melvin English (October 12, 1942 – February 23, 1995) better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, or his nickname "Blue", was an American bass singer. Franklin was best known for his role as a founding member of Motown singing g ...

File:Michael Gira by Andy Catlin.jpg, Michael Gira File:GeoffreyHolder11.15.08ByLuigiNovi.jpg,

Geoffrey Holder Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August 1, 1930 – October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, and artist. He was a principal dancer for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet before his film career began in 1957 with an appearance in ' ...

File:Avi Kaplan St Louis 2019 by Paige Butler.jpeg, Avi Kaplan File:140225-열린음악회바비-킴.jpg,

Bobby Kim Kim Do-kyun (; born January 12, 1973), more commonly known as Bobby Kim (Hangul: 바비 킴), is a South Korean hip hop and R&B artist. Music career His father, a trumpet player, influenced and exposed him to music. At an early age, he worke ...

File:Marc Lavoine Cannes 2010.jpg,

Marc Lavoine Marc Lucien Lavoine (; born 6 August 1962 in Longjumeau) is a French singer and actor. In 1985, his hit single " Elle a les yeux revolver..." reached number four on the French Singles chart and marked the beginning of his successful singing car ...

File:Till Lindemann - 2017287140953 2017-10-14 Buchmesse.jpg,

Till Lindemann Till Lindemann (; born 4 January 1963) is a German singer, songwriter and poet. He is best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein and solo project Lindemann. Rammstein has sold over 25 million records w ...

File:Markiplier by Gage Skidmore.jpg,

Markiplier Mark Edward Fischbach ( ; born June 28, 1989), also known as Markiplier, is an American YouTuber. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, he began his career in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is currently based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to uplo ...

File:Dion and The Belmonts 1960.jpg, Carlo Mastrangelo (left) File:MichaelMcCaryHWoFJan2012.jpg, Michael McCary File:Stephin-merritt-at-cadogan-hall-crop.jpg, Stephin Merritt File:Warren "Pete" Moore.JPG, Warren "Pete" Moore File:Rex nelon.png,

Rex Nelon Rex Lloyd Nelon (January 19, 1932 – January 24, 2000) was a southern gospel musicician, who had a career spanning over 40 years of both singing and publishing gospel music. He was a longstanding member of The LeFevres, which later became Th ...

File:Patrick Page DF-SD-04-13011.jpg,

Patrick Page John Patrick Page (born April 27, 1962) is an American actor, low bass singer, and playwright. He originated the roles of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in '' Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark'', the Grinch in ''Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christma ...

File:Kevin Richardson on tour.jpg, Kevin Richardson File:Paul Robeson 1942 crop.jpg, Paul Robeson File:Type O Negative - Coliseu dos Recreios.jpg, Peter Steele File:Richard_2019.jpg, Richard Sterban File:J. D. Sumner.jpg,

J. D. Sumner John Daniel Sumner (November 19, 1924 – November 16, 1998) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his bass voice, and his innovation in the Christian and Gospel music fields. Sumner sang in five quartets and wa ...

File:T.O.P - 0.TO.10 in Seoul - 2.jpg, T.O.P File:Ike Turner 1972.jpg, Ike Turner File:Joshua Otis Turner.jpg, Josh Turner File:Ville Valo & Agents 9 3 2019 (1).jpg, Ville Valo File:Barry_White,_Bestanddeelnr_927-0098_(cropped).jpg, Barry White File:Tay Zonday at the 2010 Streamy Awards.jpg, Tay Zonday

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basses In Non-Classical Music Lists of musicians Lists of singers