Alto

/ˈæltəʊ/

noun

A type of voice in music that's lower than soprano but higher than tenor.

In the choir, she sings alto.

Often appears as...

sing alto
alto voice

noun

In Spanish, 'alto' means 'stop' or 'halt'.

The sign on the road said 'Alto' which means I had to stop.

Often appears as...

alto sign
alto command

noun

In Spanish, it can also mean 'high' or 'tall'.

The mountain was so alto that it was covered in snow at its peak all year round.

Often appears as...

alto mountain
alto building

noun

A type of voice in music that's lower than soprano but higher than tenor.

In the choir, she sings alto.

Often appears as...

sing alto
alto voice

noun

In Spanish, 'alto' means 'stop' or 'halt'.

The sign on the road said 'Alto' which means I had to stop.

Often appears as...

alto sign
alto command

noun

In Spanish, it can also mean 'high' or 'tall'.

The mountain was so alto that it was covered in snow at its peak all year round.

Often appears as...

alto mountain
alto building

Definition 1 of 3

Pro Tip 1/3

Choral Context

Used to categorize singers' voices in choirs, indicating voice range.

When she joined the choir, they tested her range and decided she's an alto.

Pro Tip 2/3

Voice Pitch

Refers to the pitch range; alto is lower than a high soprano voice.

Alto solos are rare because they require a voice that is both strong and mellow.

Pro Tip 3/3

Gender Neutral

Both men (countertenors) and women (contraltos) can sing alto parts.

Despite his deep speaking voice, he impresses audiences with his rich alto singing.

Pro Tip 1/3

Choral Context

Used to categorize singers' voices in choirs, indicating voice range.

When she joined the choir, they tested her range and decided she's an alto.

Pro Tip 2/3

Voice Pitch

Refers to the pitch range; alto is lower than a high soprano voice.

Alto solos are rare because they require a voice that is both strong and mellow.

Pro Tip 3/3

Gender Neutral

Both men (countertenors) and women (contraltos) can sing alto parts.

Despite his deep speaking voice, he impresses audiences with his rich alto singing.

Pro Tip 1/3

Choral Context

Used to categorize singers' voices in choirs, indicating voice range.

When she joined the choir, they tested her range and decided she's an alto.

Pro Tip 2/3

Voice Pitch

Refers to the pitch range; alto is lower than a high soprano voice.

Alto solos are rare because they require a voice that is both strong and mellow.

Pro Tip 3/3

Gender Neutral

Both men (countertenors) and women (contraltos) can sing alto parts.

Despite his deep speaking voice, he impresses audiences with his rich alto singing.

Compare with

treble

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Visual representation of the word "Alto"

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Video examples

Marina Gorbis for Nat...

a marina gorebyss I'm executive director of the Institute for the future a nonprofit research organization in palo alto california the institute has been around for 46 years and our mission is to help people systematically think

Video examples

The Great Migration and...

where, upon arrival in Philadelphia, he got his first alto sax. And there are lovers of jazz who cannot imagine a world without John Coltrane having gotten a hold of a saxophone. Thelonious Monk. Michael Jackson. Jesse Owens.

Video examples

Marina Gorbis for Nat...

Video examples

The Great Migration and...

Example 1 of 2

Quote examples

Amy Lee

American Musician

The first real concert, other than going with my dad to see Three Dog Night, was Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage. I was fourteen or fifteen. I liked Shirley Manson because she reminded me of Annie Lennox. They both have these deep, sexy, powerful alto voices.

Quote examples

Carolyn See

American Author

Whenever I open a book about jazz, I turn to the index and look for Lennie Tristano, the incredible pianist; Lee Konitz, the luminous alto sax player; and Warne Marsh, the tenor player who captured some of the most beautiful sounds in the world.

Quote examples

David Bowie

English Musician

I wanted to be Gerry Mulligan, only, see, I didn't have any kind of technique. So I thought, well, baritone sax is kind of easier; I can manage that - except I couldn't afford a baritone, so I bought an alto, which was the same fingering.

Quote examples

John Coltrane

American Musician

I've been listening to jazzmen, especially saxophonists, since the time of the early Count Basie records, which featured Lester Young. Pres was my first real influence, but the first horn I got was an alto, not a tenor.

Quote examples

Jerome Richardson

American Musician

I don't know what I was trying to get out of a tenor - but it never really satisfied me until one day I picked up my alto and I said, 'Where have you been?' and I said right here for now on!

Quote examples

Kevin Olusola

American Musician

I have played Yamaha instruments since I was young, specifically their alto saxophones, and I have always appreciated their top-notch quality when it comes to making instruments.

Quote examples

Enrico Caruso

Italian Musician

I had always sung, as far back as I can remember, for the pure love of it. My voice was contralto, and I sang in a church in Naples from fourteen till I was eighteen.

Quote examples

Vera Lynn

British Musician

I think I have got a peculiar voice really, it neither one thing nor the other. It's not a contralto and it's not a mezzo soprano; it's a nothing voice really.

Quote examples

Gerry Mulligan

American Musician

So I played alto for quite a while until I saved up the money for the baritone.

Quote examples

Weyes Blood

American Musician

I was an alto and was in a lot of choirs growing up.

Quote examples

Amy Lee

American Musician

The first real concert, other than going with my dad to see Three Dog Night, was Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage. I was fourteen or fifteen. I liked Shirley Manson because she reminded me of Annie Lennox. They both have these deep, sexy, powerful alto voices.

Quote examples

Carolyn See

American Author

Whenever I open a book about jazz, I turn to the index and look for Lennie Tristano, the incredible pianist; Lee Konitz, the luminous alto sax player; and Warne Marsh, the tenor player who captured some of the most beautiful sounds in the world.

Quote examples

David Bowie

English Musician

I wanted to be Gerry Mulligan, only, see, I didn't have any kind of technique. So I thought, well, baritone sax is kind of easier; I can manage that - except I couldn't afford a baritone, so I bought an alto, which was the same fingering.

Quote examples

John Coltrane

American Musician

I've been listening to jazzmen, especially saxophonists, since the time of the early Count Basie records, which featured Lester Young. Pres was my first real influence, but the first horn I got was an alto, not a tenor.

Quote examples

Jerome Richardson

American Musician

I don't know what I was trying to get out of a tenor - but it never really satisfied me until one day I picked up my alto and I said, 'Where have you been?' and I said right here for now on!

Quote examples

Kevin Olusola

American Musician

I have played Yamaha instruments since I was young, specifically their alto saxophones, and I have always appreciated their top-notch quality when it comes to making instruments.

Quote examples

Enrico Caruso

Italian Musician

I had always sung, as far back as I can remember, for the pure love of it. My voice was contralto, and I sang in a church in Naples from fourteen till I was eighteen.

Quote examples

Vera Lynn

British Musician

I think I have got a peculiar voice really, it neither one thing nor the other. It's not a contralto and it's not a mezzo soprano; it's a nothing voice really.

Quote examples

Gerry Mulligan

American Musician

So I played alto for quite a while until I saved up the money for the baritone.

Quote examples

Weyes Blood

American Musician

I was an alto and was in a lot of choirs growing up.

Example 1 of 10

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