Artist vocal ranges › Baritones

Serj Tankian’s vocal range: E2–B5 (baritone)

System of a Down’s operatic metal shape-shifter. Serj Tankian’s range is commonly cited as roughly E2 to B5, about just under 4 octaves. Estimates are compiled from studio recordings and live performances, so treat the exact edges as approximate.

Test my range Can you sing it?

BaritoneVoice type

E2–B5Cited range

just under 4Octaves

Alternative metal / Nu metalGenre

Serj Tankian’s commonly cited range on the keyboard

Wondering how your voice compares? Take the free vocal range test. It takes about a minute, right in your browser.

The voice

Serj Tankian is a baritone with an operatic sensibility and a theatrical range commonly cited at roughly E2–B5. In System of a Down he swings between a rich, vibrato-laden croon, rapid-fire staccato chanting, snarling growls and full-throated screams, sometimes all in the same verse of Chop Suey! or B.Y.O.B. The Armenian folk influence shows in the ornamented, wavering melodies, and the whole thing is delivered with a manic, sardonic energy that few singers can imitate.

Most of the sung material sits in a comfortable baritone-to-tenor middle, around the octave above middle C, so the pitch is achievable; the difficulty is the speed and the register switching. Tongue-twisting verses need crisp consonants without tension, and the soaring choruses of Toxicity and Aerials need a supported, vibrato-rich tone rather than a shout. Practise the fast passages slowly with a metronome and rehearse the clean singing separately from the screams.

The screams and growls are the risky part. They should be produced with a supported, distorted sound rather than by forcing the throat, and even then they should be kept short. Warm up before any of them, stay hydrated, and stop if there is any pain or hoarseness; a coach experienced in distortion is worth finding before you go hard.

Range moments worth studying

Chop Suey!

Whispered staccato verses, a shouted pre-chorus and the operatic ‘father, into your hands’ section in a full, vibrato-heavy chest voice.

Toxicity

The chorus is a soaring, sustained melody around the top of the baritone range, with a big swelling bridge.

Aerials

One of the most singable, with a sweeping mid-range chorus and a slower tempo.

B.Y.O.B.

Screamed verses at high speed, then a smooth, almost lounge-style sung chorus; the ultimate register-switching test.

Can you sing it?

Baritones and tenors with strong diction can tackle the sung material; the screams are optional. Aerials and Lonely Day are the friendliest starting points; leave B.Y.O.B. and Chop Suey! for later. A range label only tells you the edges. Whether a song feels good depends on where its melody sits. The Singing Coach AI app listens to you sing real songs, maps your range and tessitura, and tells you which keys and songs actually fit your voice, including whether Serj Tankian’s catalogue is in reach today.

Find songs for my voice Test my range first

FAQ

What is Serj Tankian’s voice type?

Serj Tankian is usually classed as a baritone with a wide upper extension. His range is commonly cited as roughly E2 to B5, and he moves between operatic singing, staccato chanting, growls and screams.

How many octaves can Serj Tankian sing?

His range is commonly cited at just under four octaves, from around E2 to B5. The cleanly sung parts of System of a Down songs mostly sit within about two octaves around middle C.

Is Serj Tankian a tenor or a baritone?

Most references list him as a baritone because of the weight and warmth of his low register, although his choruses often sit in tenor territory. The classification matters less than the technique: his high notes are supported and vibrato-rich rather than thin.