Prince had an awesome vocal range, he even sounded great when rapping

Wow! E2 to B7?? That literally covers the entire fretboard on a guitar + nearly another octave above what a guitar is even capable of reaching. Prince can literally hit any note a guitar can hit, and then add 3-part harmonies above that note. Amazing.

[Edited 5/11/16 0:00am]

Replica said:

There are more than a few singers that can sing with a wider range than Prince. However, there's VERY few with similar amount of control in every part of their vocal range. I think part of the reason is that Prince would do everything he could to achieve what he heard inside his head, while alot of other people are too scared to do something out there and weird. Prince never considered different as weird.

There really aren't. This list was posted on a different board

Adam Lambert Vocal Range: Bb2 Bb5 (3 octaves)
Chris Brown Vocal Range: G2-G5 (3 octaves)
Jamie Foxx Vocal Range: B2-G5 (2 octaves 5 notes)
Justin Bieber vocal Range: C#3-E5 (2 octaves 1 note and a semi tone)
Freddie Mercury Vocal Range: F2-E6 (3 octaves 6 notes)
Luther Vandross Vocal Range: B1-F#5 (3 octaves 4 notes 1 semitone)
Marvin Gaye Vocal Range: D2-Eb6 ( 4octaves 1 semitone)
Michael Jackson Vocal Range: A2-C6 (3 octaves 2 notes)
Omarion Vocal Range: F2-C#6 (3 octaves 4 notes and a semi tone)
Prince Vocal Range: G2-C#7 (4 octaves 3 notes and one semi tone)
The Dream Vocal Range: C3-C6 (3 octaves)
Usher vocal Range: A2-Bb5 (3 octaves 1 notes)

alandail said:

Replica said:

There are more than a few singers that can sing with a wider range than Prince. However, there's VERY few with similar amount of control in every part of their vocal range. I think part of the reason is that Prince would do everything he could to achieve what he heard inside his head, while alot of other people are too scared to do something out there and weird. Prince never considered different as weird.

There really aren't. This list was posted on a different board

Adam Lambert Vocal Range: Bb2 Bb5 (3 octaves)
Chris Brown Vocal Range: G2-G5 (3 octaves)
Jamie Foxx Vocal Range: B2-G5 (2 octaves 5 notes)
Justin Bieber vocal Range: C#3-E5 (2 octaves 1 note and a semi tone)
Freddie Mercury Vocal Range: F2-E6 (3 octaves 6 notes)
Luther Vandross Vocal Range: B1-F#5 (3 octaves 4 notes 1 semitone)
Marvin Gaye Vocal Range: D2-Eb6 ( 4octaves 1 semitone)
Michael Jackson Vocal Range: A2-C6 (3 octaves 2 notes)
Omarion Vocal Range: F2-C#6 (3 octaves 4 notes and a semi tone)
Prince Vocal Range: G2-C#7 (4 octaves 3 notes and one semi tone)
The Dream Vocal Range: C3-C6 (3 octaves)
Usher vocal Range: A2-Bb5 (3 octaves 1 notes)

When counting his range, people are counting his upper falsetto register, and even his whisteling sounds that he doesn't really "sing" per se. Justin Bieber has a greater vocal range than two octaves and 1 note if he ever tried to whistlesing, scream or sing his deepest and highest sounds. Alot of these cats never tried that hard to reach sounds outside their comfort zone. Part of what makes Prince so cool, is that he was never afraid of going outside his comfort zone.

[Edited 5/11/16 0:57am]

[Edited 5/11/16 0:59am]

Jamie Fox... 2 octaves and 5 notes? Bullshit!

Wolfie87 said:

Replica said:

alandail said:

There really aren't. This list was posted on a different board

Adam Lambert Vocal Range: Bb2 Bb5 (3 octaves)
Chris Brown Vocal Range: G2-G5 (3 octaves)
Jamie Foxx Vocal Range: B2-G5 (2 octaves 5 notes)
Justin Bieber vocal Range: C#3-E5 (2 octaves 1 note and a semi tone)
Freddie Mercury Vocal Range: F2-E6 (3 octaves 6 notes)
Luther Vandross Vocal Range: B1-F#5 (3 octaves 4 notes 1 semitone)
Marvin Gaye Vocal Range: D2-Eb6 ( 4octaves 1 semitone)
Michael Jackson Vocal Range: A2-C6 (3 octaves 2 notes)
Omarion Vocal Range: F2-C#6 (3 octaves 4 notes and a semi tone)
Prince Vocal Range: G2-C#7 (4 octaves 3 notes and one semi tone)
The Dream Vocal Range: C3-C6 (3 octaves)
Usher vocal Range: A2-Bb5 (3 octaves 1 notes)

When counting his range, people are counting his upper falsetto register, and even his whisteling sounds that he doesn't really "sing" per se. Justin Bieber has a greater vocal range than two octaves and 1 note if he ever tried to whistlesing, scream or sing his deepest and highest sounds. Alot of these cats never tried that hard to reach sounds outside their comfort zone. Part of what makes Prince so cool, is that he was never afraid of going outside his comfort zone.

[Edited 5/11/16 0:57am]

[Edited 5/11/16 0:59am]

Singing in your whistle voice is not simply a matter of going outside your comfort zone. Very few singers can even make a sound in that register because it's so hard to hit, let alone control, let alone control with emotion.

Replica said:

There are more than a few singers that can sing with a wider range than Prince. However, there's VERY few with similar amount of control in every part of their vocal range. I think part of the reason is that Prince would do everything he could to achieve what he heard inside his head, while alot of other people are too scared to do something out there and weird. Prince never considered different as weird.

Totally agree with you.

Also, people viewed Prince in different lights. For me he was an amazing singer with a beautiful voice, a talented musician, played a wicked guitar and piano, gave amazing live performances and everything else. But some people only considered one or another side of him. For instance, my brother in law was just telling me what an amazing guitarist he was and that he had never known that, only saw him as a singer, songwriter and performer. Another person told me they'd just been watching Prince videos on YT and that they never realized what an amazing dancer he was.
I find it so unbelievable that some people overlooked all these aspects of Prince. I mean, i strikes me as pretty obvious from early on that he was a very talented human being and a complete artist.

[Edited 5/11/16 3:32am]

His vocal range is fantastic but surely it his ability to express every/any emotions and also convey this through the instruments, particularly the guitar, his second voice, that makes Prince stand apart.

Example. Michael Jackson sings 'I'm bad, really, really bad...' Quite.

Prince sings If I was your girlfriend, Anna Stesia, Empty room, Partyman, thieves in the temple, purple rain, Baby Im a star, Pheromone, Damn U, positivity, Come, Sometimes it snows in April and on and on.... That I can feel. That I can believe. His voice is what the song is about completely and makes it so more powerful. He was the music a 100%.

Funny, even now I well up just writing Sometimes it snows in April. Loved D'angelo's tribute. I miss him so much and it makes me infinitely sad to learn that it seems he was just hours and minutes from getting the help he needed. I always envisaged Prince getting really old and continue doing what he wanted, creating music every day. Cheekliy taunting us 'Why should I do that when I can do this'.

R.I.P. Prince

Stranger

daingermouz2020 said:

Stranger said:

MattyJam said:

Stranger said:

His vocal range is fantastic but surely it his ability to express every/any emotions and also convey this through the instruments, particularly the guitar, his second voice, that makes Prince stand apart.

Example. Michael Jackson sings 'I'.m bad, really, really bad...' Quite.

Prince sings If I was your girlfriend, Anna Stesia, Empty room, Partyman, thieves in the temple, purple rain, Baby Im a star, Pheromone, Damn U, positivity, Come, Sometimes it snows in April and on and on.... That I can feel. That I can believe. His voice is what the song is about completely and makes it so more powerful. He was the music a 100%.

Funny, even now I well up just writing Sometimes it snows in April. Loved D'angelo's tribute. I miss him so much and it makes me infinitely sad to learn that it seems he was just hours and minutes from getting the help he needed. I always envisaged Prince getting really old and continue doing what he wanted, creating music every day. Cheekliy taunting us 'Why should I do that when I can do this'.

R.I.P. Prince

Stranger

What a dumb reply. Why selectively pick one of MJs most throwaway pop hits and compare it to Prince's most autobiographical work? I could easily turn that around and say Prince sang Cream and U Got The Look, while MJ poured his heart and soul out with gut-wrenching vocal deliveries on songs like Earth Song, Who Is It, Push Me Away, They Don't Care About Us, Morphine, One Day In Your Life, Little Susie, Billie Jean, I'll Be There, Man In The Mirror. That I can feel. See what I did there? It works both ways. Both artists had throwaway pop hits and deeper cuts that were more profound. [Edited 5/11/16 6:47am]

It was meant a bit tongue in cheek, but thanks anyway

I've seen how people use songs like Solo, Dark and God to find his vocal range. The same guys would probably listen to Baby to measure the vocal range of Justin Bieber. Fair? It sure ain't saying shit atleast. Prince is my all time favourite singer and instrumentalist. However, people are just using their own rules to make Prince win every competition. Prince is my favourite guitar player. However, I would never argue that he knew the most about techniques, has the best technical ability, could play the fastest, or even go as far as to say that he was fluent in jazz... I would not say any of those things. Doesn't change the fact tha I personally favor him though. However, with 7 billion people in the world. Prince is not alone with his vocal range. He is alone in the pop world with his amazing control in so many parts of his range.

Out of all the things I loved about Prince, his voice was always my favorite. Instantly recognizable and just beautiful.

Replica said:

phoenixrising said:

jazzvirtuoso said:

daingermouz2020 said:

jazzvirtuoso said:

firebird319 said:

if anyone here hasn't, please give Solo a listen or five.

prince's harmonic sense came as much from jazz and gospel as from pop. I'm sure if he wanted to, he could have done more.

what made prince such a fantastic vocalisst isn't just his range, it's how he could vary how his voice sounded to fit the song. silky smoth one song, rough another, etc. All prefectly suited to fit what he was singing, including adding emotion to the vocals right where it's needed.

jazzvirtuoso said:

daingermouz2020 said:

Lol, you had to go there 😊.I've often wondered about Prince covering "Why Have I Lost You" or The Emotions "Best of My Love.. Wayne did have a great voice. I'm not sure what his regular/non falsetto voice sounded like. I do recall after buying Cameosis and wondering why they did not include the female on the album cover. I thought Wayne's voice was actually a female.

Wow, I just thought of something, maybe he did and its in the vault? Boy, we are going to be in for alot of surprises. Just think, there could be hundreds of cover tunes in the vault as well as his own original compositions..

alandail said:

Replica said:

There are more than a few singers that can sing with a wider range than Prince. However, there's VERY few with similar amount of control in every part of their vocal range. I think part of the reason is that Prince would do everything he could to achieve what he heard inside his head, while alot of other people are too scared to do something out there and weird. Prince never considered different as weird.

There really aren't. This list was posted on a different board

Adam Lambert Vocal Range: Bb2 Bb5 (3 octaves)
Chris Brown Vocal Range: G2-G5 (3 octaves)
Jamie Foxx Vocal Range: B2-G5 (2 octaves 5 notes)
Justin Bieber vocal Range: C#3-E5 (2 octaves 1 note and a semi tone)
Freddie Mercury Vocal Range: F2-E6 (3 octaves 6 notes)
Luther Vandross Vocal Range: B1-F#5 (3 octaves 4 notes 1 semitone)
Marvin Gaye Vocal Range: D2-Eb6 ( 4octaves 1 semitone)
Michael Jackson Vocal Range: A2-C6 (3 octaves 2 notes)
Omarion Vocal Range: F2-C#6 (3 octaves 4 notes and a semi tone)
Prince Vocal Range: G2-C#7 (4 octaves 3 notes and one semi tone)
The Dream Vocal Range: C3-C6 (3 octaves)
Usher vocal Range: A2-Bb5 (3 octaves 1 notes)

Only two with a wider range, Axl Rose (F1 to Bb6) and Mariah Carey (F2 to G7)

Prince goes from E2 (Daddy Pop) to B6 (God).

Well, all I can add is that my 32-year old fiance' (who I'm STILL forcing to listen to Prince on a daily basis -- today I progressed him from 3121 to Hit-n-Run Phase I), was VERY surprised at his vocal range.

Mind you, I'm 47...and have "taken for granted" this vocal ability (bc as a pianist, I'm still in awe of Prince's instrumentation). This was one of the FIRST observations my fiance' made about Prince. He had only been aware of Prince's big hits (typical casual fan), but now that he's being made aware of Prince's cataloge, that was the first thing that struck him.

avajane said:

Kacey725 said:

This thread reminded me immediately of an article I saw a few years back that had a cool interactive chart detailing the vocal ranges of some of the greatest contemporary singers. I actually found the link...it's really neat to look at!

As it turns out, Prince's full vocal range is apparently second only to Axl Rose, though we could probably argue as to whether or not the folks who did this study had access to all of his material to make that distinction. This article says that Prince hit his lowest note in "Daddy Pop" and his highest in "God."

Other fun facts according to this article by concerthotels.com:

Prince has the third greatest total range (behind Axl Rose and Mariah Carey).

Prince has the highest note of all of the male artists surveyed here, and the third highest of either gender (behind Mariah and Christina...no surprises there).

Here's a link to that graphic: http://www.concerthotels....cal-ranges

How about Minnie Riperton or Deniece Williams? I guess they are not contemporary so they wouldn't qualify. [Edited 5/10/16 13:55pm]

Thanks for the link - very interesting - I loved his voice and think he didn't get nearly the praise he deserved! I especially loved his alto/lower voice - so smooth and intoxicating!

jazzvirtuoso said:

Replica said:

I've seen how people use songs like Solo, Dark and God to find his vocal range. The same guys would probably listen to Baby to measure the vocal range of Justin Bieber. Fair? It sure ain't saying shit atleast. Prince is my all time favourite singer and instrumentalist. However, people are just using their own rules to make Prince win every competition. Prince is my favourite guitar player. However, I would never argue that he knew the most about techniques, has the best technical ability, could play the fastest, or even go as far as to say that he was fluent in jazz... I would not say any of those things. Doesn't change the fact tha I personally favor him though. However, with 7 billion people in the world. Prince is not alone with his vocal range. He is alone in the pop world with his amazing control in so many parts of his range.

Yea, I've wondered about the jazz thing myself. I started a thread year's ago, asking this same question. I play various styles myself jazz included, Prince's dad was a jazz pianist (like myself) and I'm sure that he absorbed at least some of the jazz langusge from him. Otoh, maybe Prince never spent enough time around his dad to really get that jazz swing feel from him. According to Stevie Wonder Prince could play anything he wanted, but listening to him play (jazz tunes) my feelings are somewhat inconclusive. I mean I hear some improvisation going on, but that swing triplet feel?? BLUES?? Yes, jazz?? Not so sure.. btw check prince out on you tube playing summertime (one of the jazz tunes, I play just about every weekend with my band) and tell me what you think. [Edited 5/11/16 9:14am] [Edited 5/11/16 9:16am] [Edited 5/11/16 9:19am]

I loved Prince playing Summertime! Wish it went on loner -- he was amazing!