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The musical note C8 is the C two full octaves above soprano high C. The note is one octave above the top of the piano. The pitch vibrates at over 3500 Hz (A below middle C vibrates at 220 Hz in comparision). For a vocalist to hit a note of this pitch, their vocal chords must vibrate at over 3500 times per second. This is nearly impossible because of the muscular control required in adducting the vocal cords that high. Minnie Riperton and Mariah Carey are rumored (not confirmed) exceptions. Because every octave jump doubles the rate of vibration (ie. C5 vibrates twice as fast as middle C and soprano C two octaves higher vibrates four times as fast), this helps explain why silly rumors of Mariah Carey being able to vocalize pitch beyond the human range of hearing are so laughably ridiculous. At 20,000 Hz, her vocal cords would have to vibrate 20,000 times per second. Also in comparison is the fuss of the Guinness Book record for Mariah's G#7 (still two and a half notes below C8), to help put the notes EXTREME altitude in perspective.
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