Top 20 Singers Who Can Hit Whistle Notes

#20: Leona Lewis

A whistle note from this queen is not easy to come by. However, when she does hit one, it is enough to leave listeners awestruck. The British songstress received formal training in music from a young age. She studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts before attending the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. This has allowed her to develop an impressive range, which reportedly goes as low as a C3 to as high as a G-flat six. She can not only access the whistle register, but can also move through it with agility, which makes her high notes so pleasant.

#19: Pentatonix

Group members Kirstin Maldonado and Mitch Grassi could hit whistle notes in their sleep. Who can forget that iconic Pentatonix vlog where they casually sang Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” entirely in the whistle register without a sweat? Both singers have an extensive vocal range – Kirstie is a mezzo-soprano, whereas Grassi is a tenor – and they can glide through octaves with ease. What makes those sky-high notes stand out even more is the control they have over their voices. This has proven to be a great strength for them, especially since Pentatonix is an a cappella group.

#18: Perrie Edwards

The English musician is not only a part of one of the most iconic girl groups of our time, Little Mix, but she is also an extraordinary soloist. Her resonant voice can rock stadiums, but she also carries the delicate softness that can move a listener to tears. Be it a rich low note or a soaring high one, Perrie can do it all. When she launched into a couple of sleek whistle notes while covering Mariah Carey’s “Emotions”, it was wonderfully surprising but not completely unexpected. She gave us a taste of her fantastic high register again in “Christmas Magic”, and we cannot wait to hear more of it.

#17: Grimes

This Canadian musician rose to fame with her bold experimentation and avant-garde sonic aesthetic. She is primarily associated with genres like electropop, art pop, and dance-pop, but she has also delved into classical music. Needless to say, Grimes has the vocal chops to pull that off. The “Oblivion” singer reportedly has an impressive six-octave range. She taps into the uppermost register quite often, tastefully peppering her songs with whistle notes. Interestingly, these notes rarely come across as vocal showmanship but rather act as embellishments that impart texture to the arrangement. That’s why Grimes is one of a kind!

#16: Demi Lovato

The former Disney star has a reputation for being a powerful mezzo-soprano. She has flawless technique, and her vocals pack a punch. Lovato’s range, in particular, has been highly praised by critics throughout her career. According to experts, it extends from a low C3 to an E-flat seven. So, accessing the whistle register is really no biggie for the “Camp Rock” star. It comes naturally to her, and can be heard in songs like “Wildfire” and “Proof”. You won’t find her attempting to shatter glass with every other track, but she definitely knows how to get there.

#15: Shoshana Bean

The Grammy-winning artist is no stranger to the whistle register. In fact, whistle notes have become something of a Shoshana Bean signature, in addition to her unparalleled belting, of course. You’ll often hear her hitting whistle notes in her musicals, such as “Hell's Kitchen” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. Shoshana launches into the most glorious high notes and sustains them with ease, leaving the audience slack-jawed. Despite the difficulty of perfecting such a high register, she never fails to imbue her notes with emotion. They are stable, crystal clear, and utterly satisfying in a way only Shoshana Bean can deliver.

#14: Betty Wright

No conversation about the highest reaches of the human voice can be complete without this icon. Betty Wright was remarkable in her mastery of the whistle register. Songs like “Let Me Be Your Lovemaker” and “Baby Sitter” are stunning showcases of her vocal acrobatics. However, live performances were where the power of her whistle notes truly shone. Anyone lucky enough to have witnessed her whistle notes in concert must have had a transcendental experience. Rather than being piercing or airy, Betty Wright’s uppermost register is raw, powerful, precise, and simply unmatched.

#13: Jennifer Hudson

J.Hud’s vocal prowess needs no introduction. She’s an EGOT who has stolen hearts across decades! In her WIRED Autocomplete Interview, she spoke about being a First Soprano, but confidently boasted that her range could be as versatile as she wanted it to be. She wasn’t kidding, because the “Spotlight” singer is perfectly capable of reaching vocal extremes. Unfortunately, it’s rather rare for her to go into whistle territory. She’s better known for her impeccable belts, but the rarity of her whistle notes just makes them even more impressive. Hilariously, you’ll sometimes hear her substituting those stratospheric notes with actual whistles, and honestly, we’re not complaining!

#12: Morissette

A nickname like ‘Asia's Phoenix’ doesn’t come easy. Filipino songbird Morissette is believed to have a jaw-dropping five-octave range, and her highest highs are in the whistle zone. Some fans even claim that her voice can span 5.4 octaves. Either way, her striking vocal spectrum makes her a force to be reckoned with. It was Mariah Carey who inspired Morissette to hone her upper register, though she also counts Nina Girado as a prominent musical influence in that regard. As she established herself in the music industry, Morissette herself came to be known for her fluid whistle notes and can now hold her own alongside the greats.

#11: Adam Lopez

Adam Lopez is one of the only men on this list, but he's here with good reason – he broke the Guinness World Record for singing the highest note by a male singer. For those who haven’t heard of him, Adam Lopez is a pop artist from Australia and a vocal coach at Sheldon College’s Australian School of the Arts. Lopez has demonstrated his whistle abilities numerous times throughout his YouTube videos and absolutely nailed a C-sharp on “Australia’s Guinness World Records.” Our throat hurts just watching it.

#10: Hayley Williams

Hayley Williams is not only drop-dead gorgeous, she’s insanely talented as well. While Hayley is often more concerned with putting on a show than impressing people with her vocal register, she still has a killer voice that most of us would die for. Hayley’s ability to hit the whistle register was captured on video when she was practicing with her vocal coach before a show. The way she so nonchalantly hits the note tells us that she is quite confident in her abilities, and we don’t blame her. That is some impressive stuff right there. And of course, she looks cool as hell doing it.

#9: Tamar Braxton

Tamar Braxton made a name for herself in the '90s by appearing as one part of The Braxtons, an R&B girl group consisting of Tamar and her four sisters. She then ventured off on her own and released various solo albums while appearing as a co-host on BET Her’s “The Real.” Tamar proved her incredible vocal abilities on her song “Let Me Know”, where she can be heard hitting the whistle register. Music critics praised the song and singled out Braxton’s vocals, with many comparing her to Mariah Carey. Now that is high praise, indeed.

#8: JoJo

JoJo was first noticed on “America’s Most Talented Kids” and was immediately signed to Blackground Records. Her debut single, “Leave (Get Out)”, reached #1 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart in 2004. As JoJo was just 13 years old when the song was released, this made her the youngest solo artist in Billboard history to top that specific chart. Her early success and amazing voice definitely shows up the competition. JoJo has an incredible vocal range that spans four octaves, including the whistle note, although she rarely utilizes that specific register. No one said that it was easy.

#7: Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly has come a long way from posting videos on YouTube as a teenager. While she initially auditioned for “American Idol,” she failed to reach the top 24. It clearly didn't set her back much. Tori has been known to hit whistle notes on a few occasions, like when she performed “Expensive” at Toronto’s Massey Hall. But perhaps the most famous instance is when she seemingly surprised herself with the note while singing with Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying. The way she surprises herself and curls into a ball is just adorable, but their faces say it all. Even she can’t believe it.

#6: Chanté Moore

Chanté Moore never really attained the commercial success that she is deserved. She had a few moderate hits in the 90s, including her first top ten hit “Chanté’s Got a Man”, but someone who can sustain the whistle register for minutes at a time deserves to be a household name. Moore can be heard sustaining whistle notes for extended periods of time during live performances, most notably during the crowd favorite “It’s Alright”. It’s not rare to see heated discussions online comparing Moore to Mariah Carey, with some even arguing that Moore is the more talented singer due to her penchant for sustaining whistle notes.

#5: Dimash Qudaibergen

The Kazakh crooner seems to have surpassed human limits when it comes to hitting whistle notes. Dimash has reportedly reached unbelievable highs like G sharp 7 and D8, and that too during live performances. As if that alone isn’t impressive enough, he tends to throw in a vibrato during these notes and can even perform effortless vocal runs in his whistle register. This is a testament to his incomparable vocal control, which also allows him to seamlessly transition between registers. The Dimash whistle note is not an ornament; it is the main character bringing all the drama and theatricality to his operatic compositions.

#4: Kelly Clarkson

#3: Minnie Riperton

#2: Ariana Grande

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Vitas

“The 7th Element” Singer Is Said to Have a Seven-Octave Vocal Range

Lisa Fischer

Her Whistle Notes Are Ethereal and Emotionally Charged

Deniece Williams

The Legend’s Top Notes Have an Effervescent Quality Like No Other

#1: Mariah Carey

Which of these singers is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!