🎷 A mid-range instrument 🎤 A low female voice 🎤 Lowest female range 🎷 Second highest type

alto

1 5.4

Relating to the low female singing voice or the high male voice above tenor

adjective
/ˈæltoʊ/

: contralto

In the choir, she was assigned the alto part, blending harmoniously with the sopranos and tenors.

Examples

The song was arranged for an alto singer, highlighting the unique richness of her vocal range.
She performed the piece beautifully, showcasing her alto voice that resonated throughout the hall.
Secondly, despite the fact that I speak like a soprano, I am a standard, Broadway, unclassical, alto singer.

Blog text (27)

Synonyms

contralto

vsalto

Specialized

1 7.8

Having the lowest range of the female singing voice

includes that female low range but also covers a high male adult range

Antonyms

tenor

7 5.1

Relating to a high adult male singing voice

soprano

6 5.3

A voice or instrument that makes a high sound like a woman's singing voice

Idioms

uno ab alto

Formal

9.9

A decision or order from a higher authority

Compounds

alto saxophonist

1 5.4

A musician who plays the alto saxophone

Trentino-Alto Adige

1 7.9

A region in northern Italy near Austria with high mountains and both Italian and German culture

alto clef

Specialized

1 7.7

A clef that shows middle C on the third line of the staff, used for writing music for the viola

alto relievo

Specialized

9.9

A form of sculpture where figures stick out far from a flat background to look three-dimensional

alto rilievo

Specialized

9.9

A deep sculpture where carved figures stand out from the background

How High

soprano

6 5.3

mezzo-soprano

Specialized

2 6.9

alto

1 5.4

tenor

7 5.1

baritone

7 4.4

bass

27 4.1

Surface Forms

alto positive

Etymology

Alto comes from the Italian and Latin word altus, meaning 'high' (think of altitude). The word kept the idea of a 'high' musical part, so calling a voice alto means it belongs to that specific lower-female or higher-male range in music.