The lowest vocal range represents the absolute lower boundary of human phonation—the deepest, most resonant notes the human voice can generate. While an average person can only vocalize down to around A2–E2, rare basses and extreme vocalists have achieved notes well below the piano’s lowest key, plunging into subharmonic frequencies that border on seismic sound.
This guide explains who holds the world record for the lowest vocal range, the lowest notes ever recorded, how singers produce such deep pitches, and how the limits of low-frequency human vocalization are measured.
Test your pitch here.
What Does “Lowest Vocal Range” Mean?
Lowest vocal range refers to the deepest notes a human can phonate, not just momentarily grunt or vocalize noise, but produce controlled, intentional musical tones.
There are two ways to define it:
1. Lowest individual note produced
The single deepest frequency a human has ever phonated.
2. Lowest part of a complete vocal range
The bottom boundary of a singer’s total usable range.
Both are important, but the world-record concept is typically tied to lowest note rather than total range.
Lowest Vocal Range Ever Recorded (World Records)
1. Lowest Human Note: Tim Storms – G−7 (0.189 Hz)
- Recognized by Guinness World Records
- 8 octaves below the bottom of a standard piano
- Too low to be heard by the human ear—detected using specialized equipment
- Produced via subharmonic vibration
2. Second-Lowest Verified Notes
Some basso profundo singers achieve notes between:
C1 down to C0 (~32 Hz to 16 Hz)
These are audible, musical, and used in certain choral traditions (Russian Orthodox, Georgian chants).
3. Lowest Practical Choral Voice
- Most basso profondo singers comfortably reach F1
- Elite deep basses can touch C1 or lower
Singers With Extremely Low Vocal Ranges
1. Tim Storms
- Holds record for lowest note and widest range.
- Range spans nearly 10 octaves.
2. Oktavist Bass Singers
Featured in Russian choral music, known for singing down to A1, G1, F1, sometimes C1.
Notable oktavist voices include:
- Vladimir Miller
- Mikhail Zlatopolsky
- Nikolay Didenko
3. Professional Basso Profundo Singers
Many opera and choral basses reach:
- E2 (standard)
- C2–D2 (elite)
- A1–C1 (rare, deep bass)
Lowest Vocal Range Chart (Notes & Frequencies)
| Note | Frequency (Hz) | Human Capability |
|---|---|---|
| E2 | 82.41 Hz | Typical low note for many male singers |
| C2 | 65.41 Hz | Standard bass range |
| A1 | 55.00 Hz | Low choral bass capability |
| F1 | 43.65 Hz | Common oktavist low note |
| C1 | 32.70 Hz | Rare basso profundo note |
| G0 | 24.50 Hz | Extreme low; very rare |
| C0 | 16.35 Hz | Edge of human hearing |
| G−1 | 12.25 Hz | Below human hearing |
| G−7 | 0.189 Hz | Tim Storms’ world record |
Notes below 20 Hz are largely subsonic; humans cannot perceive them as pitch but can sometimes feel them as vibration.
How Humans Produce Extremely Low Notes
Producing ultra-low tones requires unique physiology and technique.
1. Subharmonic Singing
The vocal folds vibrate in fractions—½, ⅓, or ¼ of their normal cycle.
This reduces frequency dramatically.
2. Extended Vocal Fold Length
Longer, thicker vocal folds = lower pitch capability.
3. Laryngeal Descent
Lowering the larynx increases the resonating cavity size and lowers apparent pitch.
4. Chest & Pharyngeal Resonance
Deep tones rely heavily on:
- Chest resonance
- Pharyngeal shaping
- Low vowel formants
5. Neuromuscular Control
Low-frequency vibration requires:
- High stability
- Excellent airflow control
- Relaxation of false vocal folds
Male vs Female Lowest Vocal Range
Average Male Lower Limit
Most untrained men can sing down to:
A2 (110 Hz)
Trained basses often reach:
E2–C2 (82–65 Hz)
Elite deep basses reach:
A1–C1 (55–32 Hz)
Average Female Lower Limit
Most women bottom out around:
A3–F3
Contraltos may reach:
D3–C3
Ultra-rare female low-range specialists can produce tones down to B2 or occasionally A2, but physiological constraints limit the absolute low potential compared to males.
How Low Can the Human Voice Go? (Science)
Theoretical Limit
Human vocal folds likely cannot generate modal pitches lower than ~15–20 Hz without entering subharmonic modes.
Perceptual Limit
Human pitch perception begins around 20–25 Hz.
Below that, sounds become rhythmic pulses rather than musical tones.
Documented Limit
Tim Storms’ 0.189 Hz note demonstrates what happens when subharmonic vibration approaches zero cycles per second.
Can You Train to Sing Lower Notes?
Yes, but within anatomical limits.
Effective Low-Range Training Techniques
- Vocal fry onset exercises
- Chest resonance expansion
- Relaxed vowel shaping (“oo,” “uh”)
- Gentle descending slides
- Laryngeal flexibility exercises
What Cannot Be Trained
You cannot significantly extend the physical length of your vocal folds; true ultra-low ranges are partly genetic.
FAQs
Who has the lowest vocal range ever recorded?
Tim Storms holds the world record for the lowest note.
What is the lowest note a human can sing?
Verified: G−7 (0.189 Hz)
Musically usable: C1–G1
Can women sing extremely low notes?
Some contraltos can reach C3 or lower, but ultra-low ranges are rare.
What voice type sings the lowest?
Oktavists and basso profundo singers.
Is vocal fry the same as low range?
No—vocal fry can produce low sounds but not necessarily controlled low notes.
- To understand how extreme low voices fit within biology, this overview of the human vocal range explains the full limits of vocal production.
- Visualizing where deep voices sit musically is easier with a clear vocal range chart showing notes across all voice types.
- For technical clarity, this breakdown of vocal range notes connects the lowest notes to musical notation.
- Comparing vocal extremes adds context, and this analysis of the widest vocal range highlights how rare deep-record voices are.
- Readers curious about the opposite extreme can explore the science behind the highest vocal range for contrast.
- To see where your own voice falls, taking a vocal range test online provides an accurate personal reference.
- For the acoustic explanation behind ultra-low notes, this guide on frequency ranges for instruments and voices explains how low frequencies are produced.