Alto (Contralto)

"Alto" has two closely related meanings. In a choir it is the lower women's (or children's) part, sung below the soprano line. As a classical voice type, the lowest female voice is called the contralto, and solo singers with that voice are usually described that way. The word comes from the Italian for "high": centuries ago the alto was the part sung above the tenor.

Range

A trained contralto typically sings from about F3 to F5, with a dark, rich, sometimes almost tenor-like lower register. Choral alto parts usually sit between about G3 and D5, so many singers who are not true contraltos, including mezzo-sopranos and lower sopranos, sing alto in a choir.

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The alto's job

In choral music the altos usually sing harmony rather than the melody, often moving in thirds and sixths below the sopranos and filling in the chord. Strong alto singers are good at hearing their line against the others and holding it with confidence. Some music gives the altos the tune, and in some styles, such as gospel, the alto line is especially prominent.

True contraltos are relatively uncommon among solo singers. Oratorios such as Handel's Messiah include alto solos, and opera has a smaller number of roles written for the deepest female voices.

Male altos

Men can sing alto too. Countertenors sing in the alto (or higher) range with a developed head voice, and male altos are a long tradition in English cathedral and collegiate choirs.

How alto parts are written

Alto parts are written in treble clef at the pitch they sound. In a choral closed score the alto is the lower voice on the treble staff, with stems down. The alto clef, a C clef used mainly by the viola, took its name from the alto part, which was once written with it.

Tips for altos

• Practice your part on its own until you can hold it against the soprano melody.
• Keep the low notes free and resonant without pressing down on the larynx.
• Use solfège or interval practice to hear exactly how your line moves.