Today’s pop music certainly makes it seem like a tenor’s world out there. But if you’re more of a baritone, don’t worry. Here, you’ll learn about the baritone range for singing, the best baritone pop songs to add to your repertoire, and more.
You’ve probably noticed that every single guy on Top 40 radio is a tenor, and that there are very few baritone pop singers, and very little pop music for low voice. Sam Smith, Jason Derulo, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, David Guetta, Adam Levine, Usher, Justin Bieber, and Nick Jonas are all tenors. Every member of One Direction is a tenor.
How did this happen? Where are the bass and baritone pop songs? And what are you to do if you love to sing pop music, but have a bass or baritone singing range?
What Are the Best Baritone Pop Songs?
There are lots of baritone pop songs for singers with your vocal range. Let’s take a look at our top 20 favorites.
Of course, don’t forget to warm up before you sing!
1. Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)
Elvis Presley had an incredibly impressive three-octave vocal range, and in many of his songs he puts this to good use. However, in Can’t Help Falling In Love, Elvis uses much less of a wide range and a lower tessitura. There is something so special about this song, and it is no coincidence that it is a very popular song! This particular song is a ballad, which is a song that tells a story. Like all ballads, this song is actually musically based on a French love song composed in 1784.
2. Fly Me To The Moon (Frank Sinatra)
Frank Sinatra was one of the most famous baritones of all time. Sinatra had a voice that was so highly unique and identifiable that he became incredibly famous and his music still maintains popularity today. The deepness in vocal timbre that this song requires is likely due to the meaning of the song, falling in love deeply. Ironically, the instrumentation is quite high, which also shows that the singer is talking about how euphoric love is. All of these elements will show off your wonderful voice!
3. Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
After being in the movie The Lion King, Can You Feel The Love Tonight claimed a huge amount of popularity very quickly. This song is incredibly uplifting; on one hand, love really can heal all wounds. On the other hand, if one has not found love, we get hope that one day we will find the love that is made for us. It is quite remarkable how this baritone pop song conveys this message.
4. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
Another classic, Sweet Caroline was one of the most popular songs of its day. The song has continued to maintain popularity, especially at sporting events. Depending on the event or occasion for which you might be looking for pop songs for baritones to perform, this one, with its lower extension and limited range, might be just what you need!
5. Your Man (Josh Turner)
I know this is technically a country song, but it’s a popular hit for a reason! Ever since it was sung on famous television shows such as American Idol, it is no wonder the song recently regained popularity among low voices for its low and seductive beginning. The first ten seconds of the song say it all, especially if you are looking for something that will show off low notes right away!
6. All You Need is Love (The Beatles)
Even though The Beatles mostly write songs for tenors, All You Need Is Love is the one major exception – a perfect pop song for low voices – so it had to have been added! The classic song is great for almost any occasion, and is a great reminder of a fantastic and timely message.
7. Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
Bill Withers was one of the best soul singers to have ever lived, and Ain’t No Sunshine is one of his greatest hits. Used often in movies, this is one of the most heartfelt songs for baritone singers on this list. The song is sweet but powerful… perfect for showing your beautiful voice!
8. Jeremy (Pearl Jam)
This song is incredibly heartfelt, and while it is sad, it also shows an all too common story. Pearl Jam was one of the best rock bands ever. Jeremy has a bit of a higher extension, but it is still within the baritone range, so if you’re wanting a bit of a challenge that is still approachable, give this one a try!
9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)
Even though Freddie Mercury sang primarily in the tenor range, Crazy Little Thing Called Love is quite the exception, and does not require an extreme range. In fact, there are some nice lower notes added into the verses.
10. Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley)
Never Gonna Give You Up has a nice rhythmic beat and is incredibly repetitive, which is great for beginners. Plus, the tessitura is right in the speaking range… perfect for baritones who want to sing pop music.
11. Lay Low (Josh Turner)
I suppose many of you might want to Lay Low vocally… see what I did there? This is a beautifully heartfelt song, perfect for singing to someone you love, and exceptional for vocalists on the lower end of the spectrum.
12. Wherever You Will Go (The Calling)
An incredibly sentimental song, Wherever You Will Go is another classic song that is popular but not covered much. Perhaps one of the readers of this blog will be one of the first to bring it back?
13. Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Want to highlight some of your fiery low notes? Sing Ring of Fire! This song is almost a folk song, and it’s a perfect change of texture to some of the other songs on this list. Plus, you can change it up and add some extra ornamentation to the song. In other words, add extra low notes!
14. It’s My Life (Bon Jovi)
It’s My Life shows us that our individual lives are all completely unique and we are in control of them. An empowering song, Bon Jovi is often seen as a “low tenor,” which means his work falls into the category of pop music for low voice.
15. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
Michael Jackson really did sing quite high, but if you’re looking for something more approachable, look no further than Billie Jean! The cool thing about this song in particular is that it combines elements of disco, rhythm, fun, and dance-pop all together.
16. Circle of Life (Elton John)
Circle of Life is such a classic, but what is great about it is that there are so many different recorded versions out there, you are sure to find something that fits perfectly. Even the original by Elton John is a wonderful rendition for baritones who want to sing pop.
17. Your Song (Elton John)
As mentioned above, Elton John is a legend. This song in particular switches back and forth between sung and almost spoken text, making it much more approachable. The spoken text also makes the song more touching for the listener. Plus, it adds dynamic contrast to the song and can give a sense of intimacy.
18. Little Bit of Rain (Fred Neil)
Fred Neil had an incredibly deep baritone voice. His voice was also uniquely resonant, which really just means he utilizes his instrument and body. While this song does have some really nice low notes, it mostly sits somewhere in the middle, making it an accessible pop song for baritone singers and other vocal classifications alike. Plus, the overall feeling of the song is warm and comforting, like wrapping yourself in a blanket. Who wouldn’t want that?
19. Hooked On A Feeling (Blue Swede)
Sure, Blue Swede wasn’t the original artist of this song, but there is definitely something special about their rendition. Lucky for all of us, this song does not require a hugely extended range, and can be sung by almost anyone – including baritone pop singers.
20. Feeling Good (Michael Bublé)
Michael Bublé has gained major popularity in recent years. Ironically, Michael’s voice is not particularly “dark” or “deep,” like one might expect from a baritone pop singer. This does not mean, however, that he is not a baritone! Michael is a wonderful example of how tessitura works.
To get an idea of how to sing in the different styles above, follow this video tutorial:
What is a Baritone?
A baritone is someone who has a vocal range that is lower than a tenor, but not as low as a bass. Surprisingly, the baritone singer is most commonly a voice type for male voices. Basically, if you find it difficult to sing high notes, but also don’t feel so comfortable living in the basement, you might be a baritone.
Typically, baritones have a very powerful and rich middle voice that can be very strong. It is important to also point out that some baritones have a nice upper-extension, meaning that they can sing higher notes. However, they are not tenors because they do not like to sing higher all the time.
Likewise, a baritone might have a nice lower-extension; however, they are not basses because they do not like to sing lower all the time. This is known as tessitura, and it is very important to recognize it to find your true voice type. Not all voice types have different ranges, but there is a set of notes (tessitura) that might be the most comfortable for you. Have you ever had someone recommend a song to you because it fits your voice type but you find it incredibly uncomfortable? This is because of tessitura!
What Are Vocal Classifications?
Before we go any further, let’s discuss vocal classifications a little further. There are four primary male vocal classifications: bass, baritone, tenor, and countertenor. A tenor is the highest classification of male voice, singing primarily in chest voice.
Countertenor singing range
Countertenors are men who specialize in singing in falsetto; they often sing lead roles in baroque operas. It could also be argued that pop singers who sing almost exclusively in falsetto (like Justin Timberlake) are a new form of countertenor.
Tenor Singing Range
Baritone vs Tenor. Range-wise, tenors feel comfortable belting very high. The coveted tenor high C, or C5 (the fifth C from the bottom of the piano), is the crown jewel of arias like “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot. (If you haven’t heard this before, go get a box of tissues, and watch the video below.) For a baritone, an A4 is very high, and most baritones have to switch to falsetto around an F or G. Basses can belt up to an E4, but most have to switch over at a C4 or D4.
Baritone Vocal Range
On the other end of the scale, basses and baritones have the advantage. Tenors can’t usually sing below a B2. Baritones can often sing down to an F2, while basses sometimes enjoy the coveted low D2 or even C2.
Bass Singing Range
The bass singing range is at the bottom of the spectrum of the male vocal range. As mentioned above, basses can often sing to a low D2 or even C2. For an idea of what this sounds like, listen to the video below for a great reel of baritones and basses singing various low notes. Skip to the end for the really crazy low notes.
And Now… The Baritone Pop Singer Survival Guide:
So, where does this leave baritones voices? How do you find your repertoire of baritone pop songs? If you have a bass or baritone singing range and enjoy pop music, you are probably familiar with the horrible sensation of straining to reach impossibly high notes. This is because the music on the radio nowadays is just not written for your voice.
Does this mean that you can’t learn how to sing pop? Absolutely not! Here are my five survival tips for basses and baritones who want to sing pop.
1. Sing Pop Songs in Your Key
Mercifully, songs can be moved to whatever key the singer chooses. That means a standard pop song can easily be transformed into a pop song for baritones. Have a voice teacher help you measure your range and choose comfortable keys for your pieces. Many websites that sell sheet music let you easily change the key of a piece before purchase, so you can even get sheet music in the appropriate range, i.e. your baritone singing range.
Going to a karaoke night? Some karaoke machines let you change the keys of background tracks, so remember your ideal keys for a few pieces and make the appropriate adjustments. You will be surprised how much better you sound when you are not trying to sing music that is way too high for your voice.
2. Change Ornaments to Fit Your Voice
A big part of being a singer is coming up with your own ornaments in different pieces. Copying the original artist note-for-note and riff-for-riff is not exactly creative, and for you, it is probably uncomfortable (or even impossible). Change things around to fit your style and your instrument. Instead of going for the high note at the end for instance, what if you went down an octave?
3. Explore the Few, Proud Low Pop Singers
Although they are few and far between, there have been a handful of baritone popular music singers since the 1960s, as mentioned above. Eric Clapton, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Bob Marley, Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), and Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) are a few outliers. You will likely be able to sing these bass pop singers’ songs in the original keys! Hallelujah!
4. Branch Out
Popular music draws inspiration from a plethora of genres, including blues, metal, country, musical theater, and even opera. As it turns out, tenor dictatorship does not spread to these other genres. Baritone singers like B.B. King, Tim McGraw, and Chris Young all have large baritone discographies. Musical theater roles like Javert (“Les Misérables”), Tom Collins (“Rent”), and Sweeney Todd (“Sweeney Todd”) showcase low voices, as do a huge array of art songs and operatic roles.
5. Write Your Own Music
If you get frustrated by the lack of pop music for low voice, try writing your own bass or baritone pop music! Work with your voice teacher to get an idea of where your voice sits best, and write in a way that flatters your vocal abilities. I, for one, think it is high time we had a renowned baritone or bass pop singer, so if you make it to the big time, I would be thrilled!
Don’t forget to use proper technique when you sing! Follow the tutorial below to make sure you’re not holding tension:
What Are Your Favorite Pop Songs for Baritones?
Readers, what baritone pop songs do you have in your repertoire? Leave a comment below and let us know! Want even more song recommendations? Click here for even more songs to sing!
Post Author: Elaina R.Elaina R. teaches opera voice and singing in Ann Arbor, MI, as well as through online lessons. She is currently working on a Master of Music at the University of Michigan, and she has a B.M. from the University of Southern California. Learn more about Elaina here!
Photo by Yuichi Sakuraba
Elaina R.