Singing in a choir

[PrettyCandles]

What do you do if you can't hit the top notes in your section, but can't hit the bottom notes in the next section down? Or vice-versa.

mime

I am somewhere inbetween soprano and alto and had this problem and resorted to miming the notes I couldn't hit.

Which section to choose, then - the upper or the lower range?

oh dear I can't answer your question because I managed to get on ok most of the time as long as the highest or lowest notes weren't in the score but I didn't continue in the choir after I moved location...I did, however, tend towards the alto as I found that I could manage a couple of lower notes with perseverance but couldn't manage to go any higher at all without sounding like Mariah Carey on a 78"
Hope someone else might have the solution though as I know how awkward it can make you feel when everyone else seems to have found their voice

How high can you get up to?
How low down can you go?

Generally speaking, you can add to your high notes the more singing you do, so it may be that you find you can hit higher notes the more singing you do. How often are you singing?

Voices often deepen with age. Keep the higher register going as long as you can. And what Katisha said.

Once a week. I try to run through the songs between times, but am not having muych success remembering them. They're quite challengiing!

Jux, why keep the higher register going as long as poss?

Because it influences the middle and deep voice. I mean, if you find you're screeching all the time, or your vocal chords are overstretched and painful or anything like that, then don't do it, obviously. But if there are just a few of the higher notes you're having a problem with, then keep it going for a while. Use your diaphragm as much as poss.

Look, singing should be fun. If it isn't then go lower. If you really can't do the top notes and it bothers you then don't do it. If you're just stretching a bit now and again, do some scales or arpeggios every day and see what happens.

Enjoy it, whatever decision you come to.