Bass is lower than baritone. Bass is the lowest male voice, usually about E2–E4 (82–330 Hz), while baritone sits above it at about A2–A4 (110–440 Hz).
A bass keeps a full, dark tone down to E2 and below, and a baritone is more comfortable higher up, around D4–F4. The two share most notes (A2–E4), so compare them on the chart and check which fits your voice:
Baritone or Bass? Compare Your Range
Typical ranges: Baritone A2–A4, Bass E2–E4. They share 20 notes (A2–E4), so range alone rarely decides. Choose your lowest and highest comfortable notes to see which fits you.
- Baritone A2–A4 · 110 Hz–440 HzMiddle male voice; warm and full
- Bass E2–E4 · 82 Hz–330 HzLowest male voice; deep and resonant
Typical classical ranges; many voices go beyond them. Range is one part of voice type: tone colour, tessitura and where your voice changes register matter too.
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Baritone vs Bass at a Glance
| Baritone | Bass | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual range | A2–A4 (110–440 Hz) | E2–E4 (82–330 Hz) |
| Which is lower? | Higher (the middle male voice) | Lower (the lowest male voice) |
| Comfortable zone | About B2–E4 | About G2–C4 |
| Where the voice changes gear | Around D4–E4 | Around B3–C4 |
| Typical sound | Warm, full, flexible | Deep, dark, resonant |
| Choir part | Bass (or Tenor 2) | Bass |
| How common | The most common male voice | Less common, especially true low basses |
Is Baritone Lower Than Bass?
No. Bass is the lowest male voice, and baritone is the next one up. From highest to lowest, the male voices are countertenor, tenor, baritone and bass. People often mix them up because both are “deep” voices, and many baritones can sing low notes. What a bass has is a full, easy sound at the very bottom. For the whole picture, see the vocal range chart.
Baritone vs Bass Vocal Range
A bass usually sings about E2–E4 and a baritone about A2–A4, so the difference is roughly a fourth at each end. In practice:
- Low end: a bass sounds full and relaxed on E2 and F2. A baritone can often reach them, but they sound quieter and thinner.
- High end: a baritone can sustain E4–F4 and reach G4–A4. For most basses, notes above D4 feel strained.
- Shared zone: both sing A2–E4, where most men’s songs sit, which is why the tone and comfortable zone matter more than the extremes.
Baritone vs Bass Tessitura and Sound
A bass’s tessitura sits low, around G2–C4, and the voice sounds dark and weighty even when it’s quiet. A baritone’s comfortable zone sits about a third higher, and the tone is warmer and more flexible, with an easier top. Basses often notice that most pop songs feel too high, while baritones usually find them only slightly high.
What Is a Bass-Baritone?
A bass-baritone sits between the two: about F2–F4, with a bass’s depth and a baritone’s easier top. It’s a real classical category (think of roles like Wotan). In popular music, singers such as Josh Turner and Johnny Cash are often called bass-baritones (see Josh Turner’s vocal range and Johnny Cash’s vocal range).
How to Tell If You’re a Baritone or a Bass
- Warm up, then find your lowest and highest comfortable notes and enter them in the tool above.
- Sing a phrase around A2–C3. If it’s full and easy, lean bass. If it’s quiet and breathy, lean baritone.
- Sing a phrase around D4–E4. If it’s comfortable, lean baritone. If it feels like the top of your voice, lean bass.
- Check your speaking voice with the voice Hz test. Very low speaking voices (below about 100 Hz) are more common in basses.
- If you’re still unsure, you may be a bass-baritone. A voice teacher can confirm it.
Why Your Lowest Note Doesn’t Decide Your Voice Type
Many men can growl or hit vocal fry far below E2, but that isn’t singing range. Voice type depends on your comfortable range, tone and where your voice changes register. A baritone with a lucky low note is still a baritone. To extend your bottom safely, see how to sing lower. For record-breaking lows, see the lowest vocal range.
Famous Basses and Baritones
Tim Foust of Home Free is a well-known modern bass (see Tim Foust’s vocal range), and Tim Storms holds records for the lowest notes. Classic rock and pop baritones include David Bowie (see David Bowie’s vocal range). More examples are in male vocal ranges.
Baritone and Bass in a Choir
Most choirs have one bass section, and both baritones and basses sing in it. Larger choirs split it into Bass 1 (baritones) and Bass 2 (true basses). See SATB vocal ranges for the notes. For the other male comparisons, see tenor vs baritone and tenor vs bass.
Types of Baritone and Bass
| Baritone subtypes | Bass subtypes |
|---|---|
| Lyric baritone: light and bright, closest to tenor | Basso cantante: lyrical, singing bass with a smooth top |
| Verdi baritone: strong, ringing top notes | Basso buffo: agile bass for comic roles |
| Dramatic baritone: dark and heavy | Dramatic bass: big, powerful and dark |
| Bass-baritone: baritone top with bass depth | Basso profondo: the lowest bass, often down to C2 or below |
These subtypes come from the classical Fach system. Outside opera, most singers simply call themselves baritone, bass-baritone or bass.
Does Your Speaking Voice Give a Clue?
A little. Your speaking pitch usually sits in the lower part of your singing range, so a lower speaking voice often goes with a lower voice type. Adult men typically speak at about 90–155 Hz, and women at about 165–255 Hz. You can measure yours with the voice Hz test. It’s only a clue, though: plenty of singers with low speaking voices turn out to have high singing voices. Men who speak below about 100 Hz are more often basses, and men around 110–130 Hz are more often baritones.
Is a Deep Speaking Voice Always a Bass?
No. A deep, resonant speaking voice often belongs to a baritone who simply speaks low. What marks a bass is that the lowest singing notes are strong and easy, not just reachable. Many men who think they’re basses find that E2–G2 is thin, while A2–E4 is full, and that points to baritone.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Between Baritone and Bass
- Judging by your lowest or highest note. Extremes change from day to day. Your comfortable range and tessitura are far more reliable.
- Testing cold. An unwarmed voice loses several notes at the top. Warm up for five minutes first.
- Counting falsetto or vocal fry. Falsetto can add an octave at the top and fry can add notes at the bottom, but neither shows your voice type.
- Copying a singer on a recording. Songs are often transposed, and a singer you think is “low” may simply be singing in a comfortable key.
- Deciding once and for all. Voices change with training and age, especially in your teens and twenties. Check again after a few months of practice.
Choosing Song Keys for Your Voice
Once you know your voice type, choose keys that keep the song in your comfortable zone rather than your limits. If the chorus sits too high or too low, move the whole song a few semitones. The song key finder helps you pick one, and the vocal range calculator shows how many notes you have to work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower, bass or baritone?
Bass is lower. Bass is about E2–E4, and baritone is about A2–A4.
Is bass deeper than baritone?
Yes. A bass voice sounds deeper and darker than a baritone, especially on the lowest notes, where it stays full and resonant.
Can a baritone sing bass?
Often, yes. Many baritones sing the bass part in choirs. The lowest bass notes (E2–G2) may sound lighter than a true bass’s.
What is the bass vocal range?
Usually about E2–E4 (82–330 Hz). Deep basses, sometimes called basso profondo, sing down to C2 or lower. See what is a bass voice? for more.
Is bass-baritone a real voice type?
Yes. It’s a recognised classical voice type between bass and baritone, roughly F2–F4. More detail on the baritone side is in what is a baritone?
Harlow is a vocal analysis and singing tools writer at Voice Range Test. She focuses on vocal range testing, voice type analysis, pitch recognition, and singing education tools for singers, musicians, choir performers, and beginners.