subject: Best Guides In Finding The Best Key To Sing In [print this page]
To learn your key you must find your vocal range. This is best done with the guide of a musical instrument.
*Play/sing middle C (a piano is recommended because middle C is the 3rd or 4th octave on the piano. A normal piano has 5th octave middle C).
*Play/sing each note down the scale and stop where you start to feel not comfortable. This is the bottom of your range. Make a note of this.
*Play/sing up the scale until you begin to feel uncomfortable. This is the top of your range. Make note of this.
*Count the octaves from the end of your scale to the top of your range. (An octave equals seven notes). The particular octaves you count is your total voice range.
*Next, you will do the above exercise again. Run the notes in your scale up and down to see the octave that is most comfortable.
Now let's look at finding the key in a song.
*It takes practice to find the right key in a song. Even though the first note of the song is occasionally the key for the singer it can also be within the song.
*Practice singing a noted song with an artist. If you are comfortable the song it is the right key for you. You are singing in the same key as the singer on the recording.
*Just because you feel comfortable does not mean you can't take chances.
*Some singers prefer to record the song in one key but sing live in a lower key.
Each singer has their own personal vocal ability or style that fit certain genres. This can include pop, country, classical, opera, and other fields. As a word of warning - do not rush to cap yourself to one particular category.
Each category has its favorite keys but a singer with a fantastic vocal range can cut across classifications and sing in many different genres.
Here is a list of the main categorizations and their keys:
*Soprano - High female: G3 to F6/high C
*Alto - Low female: C3 to C6/A6
*Tenor - High male: C - one octave down from middle C to High C/D
*Bass - Low male: low E to E/F a step up from mid C
