A contralto is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to, but different from the alto, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically between the F below middle C (F₃ in scientific pitch notation) to the second F above middle C (F₅), although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C (E₃) or the second B above middle C (B₅). The contralto voice type is generally divided into the coloratura, lyric, and dramatic contralto.