Raise your hand if you were gifted with a low female voice and never get to sing your favorite worship songs because they are geared towards a higher voice. I get it, me too, and to be honest it can be a little frustrating. But let me encourage you with something – as a female worship singer with an alto range, you bring a rich, warm tone, and while, yes, many worship songs are written with higher female voices in mind, your lower range offers unique beauty, depth, and emotional resonance.
It took me years to really understand this and come to grips with it. Selfishly I always wanted to sing the songs that are written for females in the original key, but I realized that I wasn’t created to sing that high – and I had to be ok with that.
So, I’m here to encourage and you and come up with some practical ways on how to embrace your vocal strengths and choose songs and keys that will allow your voice to shine. This helps you feel comfortable and in return takes the pressure and stress off of you and puts your heart in the right place to worship and lead the congregation into worship.
Understanding Your Range
First, it’s essential to identify your vocal range. You could be like me and have a degree in music, or you’re just someone who loves to sing. Either way, knowing your range is very important. This helps you keep your voice healthy for longer, and we should always take care of the gifts God gave us. Knowing your range will help you choose songs and keys that suit your voice without straining.
There’s a simple way to learn what your vocal range is without having a degree in it. Here are a few steps that will help you learn and discover what is comfortable for you to sing.
Step 1: Warm Up Your Voice
Before attempting to find your range, it’s essential to warm up. A good warm-up will prepare your voice and help prevent straining. Start with gentle humming, lip trills, or light vocal exercises like sirens (sliding from a high note to a low note) for about 5-10 minutes.
Step 2: Identify Your Lowest Note and Highest Note
- Start at the middle of a piano (Middle C,) and sing down the scale. If you don’t have access to a piano, you can use a piano app or vocal range finder online.
- Move down one note at a time, singing each note as accurately as possible.
- When you reach a note that feels like the lowest you can sing without straining, that’s your lowest note.
- Now repeat this but sing up the scale and when you reach a note that you can sing without straining or tightening your throat – that’s your highest note.
Step 3: Test with Songs
Once you know your range, test it by singing various songs and paying attention to whether certain notes are comfortable. This will give you a better idea of where you feel most comfortable when singing in worship or other settings.
Adjusting the Key
If you love a song but it feels too high, don’t hesitate to change the key. Worship music is meant to be accessible for both the congregation and the worship team, so it’s normal to adjust songs to fit the vocalist’s range.
When deciding which key to choose, consider the lowest and highest notes in the song. You want to make sure the highest note is still comfortable to hit without strain, and that the lowest note won’t disappear into the background.
Some easy ways to adjust the keys are:
- If a song is originally in E or F, try bringing it down to D or C.
- For songs in C or G, consider lowering them to Bb or F.
- Play around with your voice in different keys until you find the one where the song feels most natural.
Choosing Songs
First, let it always be about what God is placing on your heart to sing and not just about what you want to sing. These songs are meant to bring glory and honor to God, not fill our ego cups. Secondly, pay attention to the vocal melodies and where the song sits within your range, but if a song is speaking to you and you want to sing it – sing it, just adjust the key.
Best Keys for Female Alto Worship Songs:
Here are a few songs that will be good worship songs for female alto voices– and what key would be good for alto’s to sing comfortably:
Thank You Jesus for the Blood by Charity Gale
This song has a lower range in the verse and chorus but jumps up in the bridge. If you’re a true Alto singing it in the key of G or A would be the best.
Good Plans by Red Rocks Worship
This song is normally a male led song, but is a great song for lower female voices to sing. If you’re wanting to sing this song, try it either F or G.
King of Kings by Hillsong Worship
This is a great female led song that both higher and lower voices can sing, but if you’re wanting to sing it – try it in either C or D.
Who You Say I Am by Hillsong Worship
This song features a lower range in the verses and chorus, and you can adjust it to keys like F or G for better fit with lower voices.
King of My Heart by John Mark McMillan
You can easily transpose this worship song to suit lower voices, using keys like F or G.
Goodness of God by Bethel Music
Lower this key from the original can help the singer navigate the verse and chorus powerfully – try it in G or F
What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship
This song is pretty powerful and high, but if you knock it down a few keys you’ll still be able to maintain the power, lower it down to A or G to make it comfortable.
Living Hope by Bethel Music
This song can be lower in the first part but can jump up at the bridge – in order to keep the power try singing it in G or A.
Gratitude by Brandon Lake
This song is also a normally male led song, but is powerful in a lower female voice – give it a try in the key of E or F.
Run to the Father by Cody Carnes
Again, another song that is male led, but as a lower female you are able to powerfully deliver this song. If you’re wanting to sing it – try it in E.
They may not be all originally female alto worship songs, but they are songs that I believe altos will thrive in.
Building Confidence
Singing in worship is not about hitting the highest or loudest notes; it’s about ministering to the heart of the Father. If you feel nervous about your voice standing out as different, remind yourself that God created your voice uniquely and that your lower tones have their own beauty and purpose in worship.
Practical Tips for Success:
- Warm up with lower vocal exercises: Start with simple, descending scales to loosen your voice and expand your lower register.
- Blend with your team: When singing with others, find harmonies that complement your range instead of trying to match higher voices. Harmonizing can make your lower voice stand out in beautiful ways.
- Use a microphone effectively: Ensure that your mic is balanced so that your lower notes aren’t lost in the mix. Lower voices can sometimes get overshadowed by instruments, so don’t be afraid to communicate with your sound team about what you need.
Being a lower female worship singer is a gift. You bring a grounding, soulful quality to worship that invites others into a deeper experience. By choosing songs and keys that highlight your voice and leaning into the unique beauty of your range, you can confidently lead worship. Worship with confidence, and let us never forget that our gifts were to given to us to bring glory to God.