Part I

Vocal Ranges

ranges of S.A.T.B. voices in condensed vocal score

Part-writing courses makes a few assumptions about the music we are writing:

  • The music is for mixed vocal ensemble, namely: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass
  • Vocal ranges used consider that of the average singer
  • The student of part writing is learning basic musical structures from the European Common Practice Period Tradition c.1600-1900
  • Most of the rules for part writing are derived from J.S. Bach's 371 chorale settings and traditional Functional Harmony

Generally, we use a condensed vocal score for writing, as shown above, where:

  • The soprano voice is notated in the treble clef, stems up
  • The alto voice is notated in the treble clef, stems down
  • The tenor voice is notated in the bass clef, stems up
  • The bass voice is notated in the bass clef, stems down

The basic ranges for each voice are:

  • Soprano: treble clef, stems up, C4-G5
  • Alto: treble clef, stems down, G3-D5
  • Tenor: bass clef, stems up, C3-G4
  • Bass: bass clef, stems down, G2-D4

On occassion, the range of each voice can be extended by a step in either direction.