Contralto range: The contralto voice is the lowest female voice. A true operatic contralto is rare, so much so that often roles intended for contralto are performed by mezzo-sopranos. The typical contralto range lies between F (the F below middle C) to F (the second F above middle C). In the lower and upper extremes some contralto voices can sing from D (the D below middle C) to B (the second B-flat above), one whole step short of the soprano "high C".