Contralto

A contralto (Italian pronunciation:) (sometimes alto) is a classical female singingvoice whose vocal range is the lowest of such voice types.

The contralto voice type is fairly rare. A contralto's range is similar to that of a mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor – typically from the F below middle C (F₃ in scientific pitch notation) to the second F above middle C (F₅), although, at the extremes, some voices can reach the D below middle C (D₃) or the second B♭ above middle C (B♭₅). The contralto voice type includes coloratura, lyric, and dramatic contraltos.