Editing Soprano (section)

== Vocal range ==
[[File:Soprano voice range on keyboard.svg|thumb|upright=1.8|Soprano vocal range (C<sub>4</sub>–C<sub>6</sub>) notated on the [[treble clef|treble]] [[staff (music)|staff]] and on piano keyboard in green with dot marking middle C]]
{| align=right
|<score>{ \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } c'4 c'''4 }</score>
|}
The soprano has the highest [[vocal range]] of all [[voice type]]s, with the highest [[tessitura]]. A soprano and a [[mezzo-soprano]] have a similar range, but their tessituras will lie in different parts of that range.<ref name=Boldrey>{{cite book
|title= Guide to Operatic Roles and Arias
|last= Boldrey
|first= Richard
|year= 1994
|publisher= Caldwell Publishing Company
|isbn= 978-1-877761-64-5}}</ref>

The low extreme for sopranos is roughly A<sub>3</sub> or B{{music|b}}<sub>3</sub> (just below middle C). Within opera, the lowest demanded note for sopranos is F<sub>3</sub> (from [[Richard Strauss]]'s ''[[Die Frau ohne Schatten]]''<ref>''Die Frau ohne Schatten'' vocal score, Dover vocal scores 2003, act 1, scene 2, 5th bar of figure 102, {{ISBN|0-486-43127-4}}</ref>). Often low notes in higher voices will project less, lack timbre, and tend to "count less" in roles (although some Verdi, Strauss and Wagner roles call for stronger singing below the [[Staff (music)|staff]]). However, rarely is a soprano simply unable to sing a low note in a song within a soprano role.<ref name=Boldrey /> Low notes can be reached with a lowered position of the [[larynx]].

The high extreme, at a minimum, for non-coloratura sopranos is "soprano C" (C<sub>6</sub> two octaves above middle C), and many roles in the standard repertoire call for C{{music|#}}<sub>6</sub> or D<sub>6</sub>. A couple of roles have optional E{{music|b}}<sub>6</sub>s, as well. In the [[coloratura]] repertoire, several roles call for E{{music|b}}<sub>6</sub> on up to F<sub>6</sub>. In rare cases, some coloratura roles go as high as G<sub>6</sub> or G{{music|#}}<sub>6</sub>, such as Mozart's concert aria "[[Popoli di Tessaglia!]]", or the title role of [[Jules Massenet]]'s opera ''[[Esclarmonde]]''. While not necessarily within the tessitura, a good soprano will be able to sing her top notes full-throated, with timbre and dynamic control.<ref name=Coffin>{{cite book
|title= Coloratura, Lyric and Dramatic Soprano, Vol. 1
|last= Coffin
|first= Berton
|year= 1960
|publisher= Rowman & Littlefield
|isbn= 978-0-8108-0188-2
|url-access= registration
|url= https://archive.org/details/singersrepertoir0000coff
}}</ref>

In opera, the [[tessitura]], [[vocal weight]], and [[timbre]] of voices, and the roles they sing, are commonly categorized into voice types, often called {{lang|de|Fächer}} ({{abbr|sg.|singular}} {{lang|de|[[Fach]]}}, from German {{lang|de|Fach}} or {{lang|de|Stimmfach}}, "vocal category").<ref name=Coffin /> A singer's tessitura is where the voice has the best timbre, easy [[Dynamics (music)|volume]], and most comfort.