# Sailing by Rod Stewart

Source: https://pitchhighway.com/songs/rod-stewart-sailing
Site: PitchHighway — learn to sing your favorite songs (https://pitchhighway.com)

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## Measured data

- Key: D major
- Vocal phrasing tempo: ~71 BPM (median pace of the sung phrases, measured from real uploads — it can sit below the song's beat BPM on sustained passages)
- Vocal range: D#3–E5 (25 semitones)
- Tessitura (middle 50% of sung time): B3–F#4
- Longest note: D#4 held 3.7s
- Difficulty: hard
- Range fit: fits inside 24% of the 843 vocal ranges measured on PitchHighway (whole-octave shift allowed)

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## Rod Stewart Sailing vocal analysis

Rod Stewart released Sailing in 1975 on the album Atlantic Crossing. The track remains a staple for singers who want to test control across a wide span while holding long phrases at a moderate pace.

## Measured vocal stats

The uploaded performance spans D#3 to E5, a total of 25 semitones. The tessitura sits mostly between B3 and F#4. Phrasing moves at roughly 71 BPM. The longest sustained note is a D#4 held for 3.7 seconds. Note density averages 0.3 notes per second across the 265-second track. These figures place the song in the hard category.

## What makes it easy or hard to sing

The 25-semitone range forces the singer to move from low chest voice into head voice without breaks. The tessitura around B3-F#4 keeps most of the melody in a comfortable middle register, yet the occasional E5 requires a clean transition into upper head voice. The 71 BPM tempo gives time to shape each phrase, but the 3.7-second D#4 demands steady breath support and consistent tone. At 0.3 notes per second the line stays sparse, so the challenge lies in dynamic control and pitch accuracy rather than rapid articulation.

## Who it suits

Baritones and tenors will find the core tessitura sits well in their primary range. Lower baritones can drop the high E5 an octave or use a light falsetto. Higher tenors can lean into the E5 with mixed voice. Sopranos and altos may transpose down a minor third to keep the top note within reach while preserving the original feel.

## How to practice it

Start by mapping the full range on a keyboard or app so the low D#3 and high E5 are familiar targets. Sing the opening verse on a neutral vowel to lock the B3-F#4 tessitura and check for tension in the throat. Isolate the sustained D#4 sections and practice them on a single breath at gradually increasing volume. Once the long note feels steady, add the surrounding melody at 71 BPM, focusing on even tone across the register shift near F#4. Record each pass and compare the pitch and duration to the measured values.

Upload the song to PitchHighway and learn it phrase by phrase.