Quick answer: SATB stands for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, the four voice parts of a standard mixed choir, from highest to lowest. Typical SATB ranges: soprano C4–A5 (C6 when trained), alto F3–D5, tenor C3–A4 (C5 when trained) and bass E2–D4 (E4 when trained). Sopranos and altos are usually women or children; tenors and basses are usually men.
Not sure which part you should sing? The free vocal range test measures your lowest and highest notes in about two minutes; compare them with the SATB chart below.
What Does SATB Mean in Music?
SATB is shorthand printed on choral music to show which voices it is written for. Each letter is one part, written on its own staff or shared in pairs:
- S – Soprano: the highest part, usually carrying the melody.
- A – Alto: the lower female or treble part, singing harmony under the sopranos.
- T – Tenor: the higher male part.
- B – Bass: the lowest part, the foundation of the harmony.
An “SATB choir” is therefore a mixed choir of women and men singing in four parts. Four-part writing became the standard texture of Western choral music during the Renaissance, and J. S. Bach’s four-part chorales are still the classic SATB model taught in harmony classes. Today SATB music is sung by church, school, community and professional choirs, gospel and pop choirs, and in choral-orchestral works.
SATB, SAB, SSA, TTBB and other choir formats
| Format | Parts | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| SATB | Soprano, alto, tenor, bass | Standard mixed choir |
| SAB | Soprano, alto, baritone | Mixed choirs with few men, school choirs |
| SSA / SSAA | Two sopranos, one or two altos | Women’s and children’s (treble) choirs |
| TTBB | Two tenors, two basses | Men’s choirs, barbershop-style ensembles |
| SSAATTBB | Each SATB part split in two (divisi) | Large or advanced choirs, eight-part music |
SATB Vocal Range Chart
SATB range chart: typical choir range (dark) inside the trained range (light)
Dark bar = what most amateur choirs sing; full bar = trained / professional range. Grid lines: C2 = 65 Hz, C3 = 131 Hz, C4 = 262 Hz, C5 = 523 Hz, C6 = 1,047 Hz. C4 is middle C.
| Part | Typical choir range | Trained range | Frequency (trained) | Written in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | C4 – A5 | C4 – C6 | 262–1,047 Hz | Treble clef |
| Alto | F3 – D5 | E3 – F5 | 165–698 Hz | Treble clef |
| Tenor | C3 – A4 | C3 – C5 | 131–523 Hz | Treble clef with a small 8 below (sounds an octave lower), or bass clef |
| Bass | E2 – D4 | E2 – E4 | 82–330 Hz | Bass clef |
Exceptional voices go further: coloratura sopranos reach around F6, true contraltos can sing down to about D3, and some basses reach C2 or lower. Choir music rarely uses those extremes, because a whole section has to sing the notes together with a blended tone. The same voice types as bars on a single axis, soloist types included, are in the vocal range chart, and the edge notes of every type are listed in vocal range notes.
The Four SATB Parts Explained
Soprano (S)
Choir range about C4–A5, trained C4–C6. Sopranos usually carry the tune, so the part sits high for long stretches. Challenges: keeping a blended tone on high notes, pacing breath on climaxes and keeping vibrato under control so the section sounds as one. Solo soprano sub-types include lyric, dramatic and coloratura.
Alto (A)
Choir range about F3–D5, trained E3–F5. Altos fill the middle of the harmony, often with fewer tunes and more inner lines. Most altos are mezzo-sopranos singing the low part; true contraltos are rare. Not sure which you are? See alto vs mezzo-soprano and mezzo-soprano vs contralto. In some choirs, especially English cathedral choirs, male countertenors (falsettists) sing the alto part.
Tenor (T)
Choir range about C3–A4, trained C3–C5. Tenor parts are usually written in treble clef with a small 8 under it, meaning they sound an octave lower than written. Tenors are often in short supply, so many high baritones sing tenor in amateur choirs. The main risks are fatigue from a high tessitura and pushing chest voice too high instead of blending into a mixed voice.
Bass (B)
Choir range about E2–D4, trained E2–E4. Basses give the harmony its foundation and tuning reference; baritones usually sing bass too, sometimes split as Bass 1 (higher) and Bass 2 (lower). Russian Orthodox choirs add oktavists who double the bass line an octave lower; their notes are covered in the lowest vocal range.
How Choir Directors Place Singers in SATB
Directors care more about tessitura, the zone where a voice sounds free for a whole phrase, than about the highest or lowest note. A typical voice placement goes like this:
- Sing a simple scale or a familiar song down and up to find the comfortable edges.
- Listen for the tone colour: bright and light, or dark and heavy.
- Note where the voice changes register; a break around E4 suggests baritone, a break higher up suggests tenor.
- Balance the choir: men with a high comfortable zone often “sing up” to tenor, and many mezzos “sing down” to alto.
Most men are baritones (see the average vocal range for men), so they can sing either tenor or bass depending on where their voice sits easily. Solo singing is different: a soloist uses dynamic contrast and extreme notes, while a choir needs sustainable, blended notes from everyone in the section, which is why choir ranges are narrower than solo ranges.
SATB Range Overlap
SATB parts are not four separate boxes. Using the typical choir ranges above, neighbouring parts share many notes:
| Parts | Shared notes | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano and alto | C4 – D5 | 15 notes |
| Alto and tenor | F3 – A4 | 17 notes |
| Tenor and bass | C3 – D4 | 15 notes |
| All four parts | C4 – D4 | 3 notes |
That overlap is what lets arrangers cross parts, double a line for strength or hand a phrase from one section to another. It is also why the same singer can move between tenor and bass, or between alto and soprano, as a choir’s balance changes.
Practise Your Part
Holding a harmony line while three other parts sing around you is a skill. Practise matching single notes with the pitch matching game, learn to hear the distances between your part and the others with interval ear training, and if your section tends to drift, read why singers go sharp or flat. Before rehearsal, a short singing warm-up routine makes the top and bottom of your part far easier.
- Types of Vocal Ranges
Soloist voice types beyond SATB, with sub-types and break points.
- Vocal Range Guide
Every vocal range page, test and exercise in one place.
SATB FAQ
What does SATB stand for?
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass: the four parts of a mixed choir, listed from the highest voice to the lowest.
What is the lowest part in SATB?
Bass. It usually sits between about E2 and D4 in choir music. The highest part is soprano.
Is alto higher than tenor?
Yes. The alto part sits above the tenor part, typically by about a fourth, although the two share the notes from about F3 to A4. Tenor music is often written in treble clef but sounds an octave lower than written.
Can a baritone sing tenor or bass in a choir?
Yes. Baritones sit between the two; most sing bass, and those with an easy top often sing tenor. Choose the part where your voice stays comfortable for a whole piece.
What does “SATB octavo” mean?
An octavo is the standard slim booklet format used for printed choral sheet music. An “SATB octavo” is simply a choral score for soprano, alto, tenor and bass in that format.
Are SATB ranges different from solo ranges?
Yes. Choir ranges are narrower because a whole section must sing the notes comfortably and in blend, while a soloist can use extreme notes and big dynamic contrasts.