The lowest note ever sung and officially recognized by Guinness World Records is G−7 at 0.189 Hz, produced by American bass singer Tim Storms in 2012. That frequency is far below the usual lower limit of human hearing, so specialized equipment measured the vibration; listeners could not hear its fundamental as an ordinary musical pitch.
Storms’ achievement is extraordinary even among singers with an unusually wide measured vocal span. However, the lowest detectable vibration a voice can produce is not necessarily a clear, stable note that singer can use in a song.
What Is the Lowest Note Ever Sung?
Tim Storms holds the Guinness World Records title for the lowest vocal note produced by a male: G−7 at 0.189 Hz. He achieved it on March 30, 2012, at Citywalk Studios in Branson, Missouri.
According to the official Guinness record, two college music professors and an acoustician witnessed the attempt. Verification involved a low-frequency microphone, a precision sound analyzer, and additional post-analysis equipment. Those instruments mattered because 0.189 Hz is infrasonic—below the frequency range normally perceived as sound by human ears.
The “−7” designates an extremely low octave. Storms’ note is about eight octaves below the lowest G on a standard piano.
How Low Is G−7 Compared With Other Notes?
| Example | Note | Approximate frequency | Context | Normally audible as pitch? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Storms’ male record | G−7 | 0.189 Hz | Instrument-verified vocal vibration | No, not as a conventional fundamental |
| Joy Chapman’s female record | C♯1 | 34.21 Hz | Guinness-verified vocal note | Yes, though extremely low |
| Lowest standard piano key | A0 | 27.5 Hz | Bottom of an 88-key piano | Usually yes, with strong overtones |
| Low bass reference | E2 | 82.41 Hz | Commonly cited bottom of a choral bass range | Yes |
| Very low extended bass note | C1 | 32.70 Hz | Specialist low-bass or subharmonic territory | Yes, if resonant and stable |
A conventional bass singer’s range is often described around E2 to E4 in choral writing. Storms’ record is hundreds of times lower in frequency than E2, so it is not an ordinary extension of the bass staff.
How Long Does One Vibration Take at 0.189 Hz?
Frequency counts cycles per second. The period of one cycle is:
period = 1 ÷ frequency
For Storms’ record, 1 ÷ 0.189 ≈ 5.29 seconds. The cycle takes about 5.3 seconds—far too slow to establish an ordinary sense of musical pitch.
Can Humans Hear the Lowest Vocal Note?
Humans cannot normally hear a 0.189 Hz fundamental as a musical note. The commonly cited lower boundary of human hearing is about 20 Hz, although sensitivity differs between people and depends on volume and listening conditions.
A very slow fundamental may still generate harmonics or mechanical sounds inside the audible spectrum. A listener could hear or feel part of the event without hearing G−7 itself as a definite pitch.
Fundamental Frequency Versus Audible Harmonics
The fundamental frequency is the lowest repeating frequency in a complex sound and usually determines the pitch we perceive. Harmonics are faster vibrations occurring at whole-number multiples of that fundamental. Our explanation of voice frequency and perceived pitch shows why a frequency measurement and a listener’s pitch judgment are related but not identical.
At familiar singing frequencies, the brain can infer a pitch from its harmonic pattern even when the fundamental is weak. At 0.189 Hz, only measurement equipment can identify the underlying slow vibration.
Why Specialized Equipment Was Necessary
Phone microphones and ordinary tuners are not designed to validate a fraction of one hertz. Hardware may filter infrasonic motion, and software may mistake noise or an overtone for the fundamental. Guinness therefore used expert witnesses and appropriate analysis.
The frequency range associated with human voices should not be confused with every measurable movement the vocal system can generate. A record attempt can investigate vibration beyond practical speech and singing frequencies.
How Does This Record Compare With Normal Singing?
Storms’ G−7 is a record-setting production, not a typical performance note. A usable note must be controllable, stable, and resonant enough for music.
Record Frequency Versus Usable Range
A singer’s total range covers their demonstrated extremes. Tessitura is the narrower area where the voice remains comfortable and musically effective. One extreme note describes neither tessitura nor control.
This is especially important when reading about a true bass voice and its characteristics. A bass is classified through habitual tessitura, vocal weight, timbre, passaggio locations, and repertoire—not through a momentary fry pulse or one exceptionally low sound.
How Can a Voice Produce Subharmonics?
Very low effects may involve vocal fry, irregular pulses, or subharmonic phonation. Interacting laryngeal structures can create a repeating pattern below the ordinary fundamental.
The vocal folds—the paired tissues in the larynx that open and close during phonation—do not behave like one vibrating string. Airflow, tissue contact, and resonance produce complex patterns. Our guide to how the vocal folds create sound explains ordinary phonation.
A spectral trace can reveal repeating frequencies, but it cannot prove that the sound is healthy or useful in performance.
Who Is Tim Storms?
Tim Storms is an American bass singer with Guinness-recognized achievements in low-note production and vocal range. The records came from separate attempts.
Guinness has described Storms as possessing a measured span of approximately ten octaves. The figure represents record-condition extremes, not ten octaves of equally strong, song-ready notes.
What Is the Lowest Note Ever Sung by a Woman?
The lowest female vocal note recognized by Guinness World Records is C♯1 at 34.21 Hz, achieved by Canadian singer Joy Chapman on February 21, 2021, in Surrey, British Columbia. Unlike Storms’ 0.189 Hz result, C♯1 lies above the conventional 20 Hz hearing threshold and can be perceived as an extremely low pitch.
Guinness’ official female record listing takes precedence over older or unsourced lists, which may count unofficial recordings or apply different rules.
How Does C♯1 Compare With Typical Female Ranges?
C♯1 is far below typical soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, and contralto repertoire. Chapman’s achievement is an exceptional extension, not a normal female singing range.
Voice type cannot be assigned from one note; classification depends on tessitura, passaggi, tone, and sustainable registration.
Can You Safely Learn to Sing Extremely Low Notes?
You can improve coordination near your natural lower boundary, but training cannot guarantee an exceptional record. Stop for pain, throat pressure, dizziness, or lingering hoarseness.
Find Your Natural Lower Limit First
Begin comfortably, then descend by semitones at moderate volume. Count a note only when you can repeat it at a recognizable pitch without pressing. Our guide to finding your lowest comfortable notes focuses on consistency rather than a one-time sound.
Warm up gently and record short attempts instead of repeatedly grinding at the bottom. A qualified teacher can distinguish modal singing, fry, and subharmonic effects. Persistent discomfort or voice change warrants evaluation by a voice-specialized clinician.
Do Not Confuse Vocal Fry With Progress
Vocal fry produces slow, creaky pulses below modal voice, but tuners may report overtone or octave errors. A fleeting fry pulse is not automatically usable range. Progress means greater repeatability, resonance, and comfort—not merely a smaller number onscreen.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Lowest Sung Note
Who holds the record for the lowest note ever sung?
Tim Storms holds the Guinness World Records title for the lowest vocal note by a male. His G−7 measured 0.189 Hz during a verified 2012 attempt in Branson, Missouri.
Can people hear Tim Storms’ G−7?
People cannot normally hear its 0.189 Hz fundamental as a conventional pitch because it is far below the roughly 20 Hz lower boundary of human hearing. Audible harmonics or other components may be present, while specialist equipment detects the underlying slow vibration.
What is the lowest audible note a human can sing?
There is no universal record for the “lowest audible” note because hearing sensitivity, volume, harmonics, and record rules affect the answer. A frequency above 20 Hz may be audible without producing a clear musical pitch.
What is the lowest note ever sung by a woman?
Guinness recognizes Joy Chapman’s C♯1 at 34.21 Hz, achieved in 2021, as the lowest female vocal note. It is extremely low but still above the conventional lower hearing boundary.
Is vocal fry counted as part of a singer’s vocal range?
It depends on the measurement standard. Informal profiles may count fry or subharmonic notes, while teachers often separate them from repeatable modal singing; the same caution applies when comparing a low record with the highest verified vocal-note claims.
Can practice make your lowest note dramatically lower?
Practice can improve coordination, resonance, and access to notes near your existing lower limit. Anatomy still places strong constraints on the result, and forcing the larynx downward or pressing for an extreme note can cause strain rather than useful range growth.
Nance is a vocal range and singing analysis writer at VocalRangeFinder. She focuses on vocal range testing, voice classification, pitch analysis, and singing education tools for vocalists, choir singers, musicians, and beginners.