What makes a "true contralto" is the rich tonality of the lower notes. If a female can give full color to notes below middle C, they have the potential of beginning a contralto. However, it's the singer's choose if they want to focus in this particular voice category. The voice will do what you make it and if you are consistant it will become your "vocal home". There are a lot of classical singers who have a very extensive range; for example, most tenors can do alto and some soprano. Does that make them a counter-tenor? I am a male, studying as a sopranist and can go as low as B Flat (2) and as high as A above High C. In having an extensive range like that, I can almost select any vocal category. What made me select sopranist is because I can ring up to an E above high C, which most counter-tenors don't have in their register; and most of the music for counter-tenors is written in the alto register....; therefore, I was wasting range I had available.

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