The human voice is one of the most versatile and amazing instruments. It is able to produce highly intricate arrays of sounds and pitches. It’s tone can also be modulated to suggest emotions such as anger, surprise, or happiness. And of course it can be used to sing.
Many singers have claimed the ability to sing very high pitches, or very low ones. A music teacher in China named Li Wenxing is trying to beat the record for the largest vocal range – he is currently able to sing across 6 octaves. Here is a video that he created to showcase his ability. When I first saw it, I couldn’t believe that the sound I heard was coming from this man’s voice. Definitely very strange.
Now, Li Wenxing can sing very high, however the Guinness record for the widest vocal range is held by ultra-low bass singer Tim Storms, who also holds the record for the lowest note in the world produced by the voice: a brown-note-busting 8 Hz! 8Hz is actually lower that we can hear, but it can be detected by some audio equipment.
Here is an inverview with Tim and a demonstration of his vocal abilities.
A man named Charles Kellogg who claimed to have a vocal range of an incredible 12.5 octaves could accurately imitate birdcalls. The birdcalls went up past the range of hearing (on the high end). Unfortunately, his claim of 12.5 octaves could never be accurately verified.
Here is a recording from 1917 of him imitating birdcalls with his voice:
[audio:charles_kellogg_sounds.mp3]Pretty freaky, isn’t it?
I can make 100 or more sounds and voices,including trumpets,clarinet,lots of moog sounds,people,animals with just my voice.I can imitate people,guitars just about whatever I want without mechanical or anything electrical.I will admit it sounds better with a microphone.
Whistling is not voice.
Voice eminates only from the area of the vocal chords.
Resonantes within the sinus cavities.
Exits and is articulated by the motions of the mouth
and tongue and lips.
I think not all sounds made by this man
is from his voice alone.
first of all i hate all of you not giving a list o celeb octave ranges
And Vitas Bumac?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3zUkRb9CSU
Axl Rose has a freaking large vocal range!
4 octaves in full (without falsetto or fry) voice and 6 octaves overall (with falsetto and fry).
Also in one song (There Was A Time) he spanned 4 octaves in full voice as well!
Very interesting the things some of us can do with our own voices. And what about overtone singing, have you heard that? That’s another remarkable way of using the human voice. Thanks for sharing!