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'Elvis Presley has been described variously as a baritone and a tenor. An extraordinary compass- the so-called register-, and a very wide range of vocal color have something to do with this divergence of opinion. The voice covers two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat. Presley's best octave is in the middle, D-flat to D-flat, granting an extra full step up or down. Call him a high baritone. In 'It's'now or never', (1960), he ends it in a full voice cadence (A, G, F), that has nothing to do with the vocal devices of R&B and Country. That A-note is hit right on the nose, and it is rendered less astonishing only by the number of tracks where he lands easy and accurate B-flats. Moreover, he has not been confined to one type of vocal production. In ballads and country songs he belts out full-voiced high G's and A's that an opera baritone might envy. He is a naturally assimilative stylist with a multiplicity of voices - in fact, Elvis' is an extraordinary voice, or many voices'

Elvis Presley#70

MusicVocal rangeTechniqueVocal techniqueVersatilityAnalysisEducation

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote provides a technical analysis of Elvis's vocal range and style, noting his versatility across registers.
In plain terms
Elvis had a wide vocal range and could sing in many styles.
What can you take from it?
Technical vocal ability contributed to his musical versatility.

Where it applies

  • music education
  • vocal coaching

Putting it to work

  • voice lessons
  • academic papers

Questions to consider

  • How does vocal range affect an artist's repertoire?
  • What technical aspects define a singer's style?

Another view

The description is dense and may be inaccessible to lay readers.

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