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Anybody have tips or tricks for finding the optimum key to fit a specific singing range?
Singing is not my strength, and so I have spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out where my natural range lies, and whether that means all my songs should be in the same key. Although I haven't come to a firm conclusion yet, my "working conclusion" (subject to change based on new information) is this:
1) every singer should know his/her range (lowest, highest and most comfortable notes). In my case, all three of those are B flat. But when I try to put songs in the KEY of B flat, it doesn't always work
2) rather I have found that if I transpose the MELODY until all the notes are centered around B flat (even though the sharps and flats may put it in a different key) I can usually sing it comfortably.
3) I have also determined that the mode of the scale affects which key will put the melody in the middle of my natural range.
But I still haven't come up with an empirical formula that identifies a key based on information other than trial and error. Anybody have thoughts to add?
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Pat,
My music computer is packed away for this evening so can't be specific but BIAB has a built in utility to do just what you're after. It does require songs with melodies I think. You enter your range or maybe sing your range. i'm just guessing now so I'll stop. Check it out.
For me I have a very narrow range yet I do songs in all keys. It all depends on were the melody line takes you. Some songs I can't do in any key. It's mostly trial & error for me.
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I led music in Church for years. If the melody went higher than D I would lose about half the congregation. The songs were in C, D, F, G... .
It's not the key of the song. It's the range of the melody.
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Hi Pat,
From the sounds of things, Eb or F might be "generally" good keys for you because these keys will allow you sing both below and above the tonic. This will allow you to approach the tonic in both directions (up or down).
I don't know if you are aware of this but BIAB has a good little feature called "Vocal Wizard". With this, you simply compose a song in the key that the muse gives it to you, put your highest and lowest note into the Vocal Wizard and then, presto, BIAB will determine the best key for you to perform this song. I don't know if it will solve your problem but it could be worth a shot.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Singing is not my strongest point either. Singing too high a key for song will cause me to go into a fit of coughing.
joe
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I'm not at my music computer, so I can't tell you the exact command, but BIAB has a feature to help figure out which key to transpose a song to that matches your vocal range. You can enter the range you are comfortable with, and as long as the song has a MIDI melody entered, it will analyze the range of notes used to let you know which key maximizes the notes that fall within your singing range. I've used this feature a number of times.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Have you tried singing along to an original artist who you believe to be somewhat in your range.I was told when I was younger that I was a bass/baritone and found I could sing in the keys of most of Elvis's songs(not all mind you the top note of Surrender was a bit of a strain).So thats what I would try as well as the suggestions posted up.Frankie
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Hi Pat - I have no formula. As a self-accompanying guitarist, that's why God invented capos.  They are truly a god-send. I wouldn't even begin to know how to theorize arriving at such an answer. If it's a cover song - I test drive the song in C, G, D first. As already stated in the thread a lot depends on the melody line. Piano Man comes to mind - you need to sing in two octaves. I have a limited range but ended up in G or A primarily because I use harmonica, and didn't want to buy an F# harmonica but had the other two. I'm working on a song now that has a melody line within the C3-C4 octave. It was originally in the Key of C but I couldn't get much vocal power. So I regenerated RT versions of RB in the keys of D, E, F, G and settled on F - I never sing in F but it gave me power for a very narrow melodic range. Normally I would experiment using the capo on the old 6 sliding up and down the neck. . . but I wanted to see what RB would do with multi-regenerations with only 512 RAM . . . not even a hiccup. The only rule seems to be that there ain't a rule to me. You got to test drive the product. Does it save that much time to know in what key you should be able to theoretically sing? I suppose if you're a world famous tenor it does. Then you choose only the songs that puts your voice in it's comfort zone - but isn't it true for all of us. Maybe if one sat down with a vocal coach and worked out a vocal range, but you'd still be able to sing in multi keys within your vocal range. Capo seems to be the best answer for finding out. Too simplistic an answer? Bad cold day today - have patience please. Ian
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For myself, it's between c &c# and on a hill far, far away.   I'm most thankful for those that have a wider range Wyndham
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The vocal wizard is the name of the utility in Band in a Box.
Find the Icon with the black side view of a head and a red arrow. Mine's on the top row beside the icon for guitar chord solo generator.
Fill in the lowest and highest note you can sing. The thing will analyze each song and then suggest the key. If you plan on just singing that's fine, but sometimes it shows a lot of sharps or flats. I'm ok but not with 6 flats or 5 sharps. But it gives you the analysis and you can set it to change the key for you.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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I have a little trick I do on my recordings. I find the most comfortable key to sing my song in. Then lower it a half-step or step, depending on where it will end up. Then I get up early in the morning and record the vocal in that lower key. Later in the day I would struggle a little to sing that low.
Why do I do this?
Well, I am writing mostly country-alt stuff, so I like that deeper, weary, burnt out on the road, vocal sound. Also I believe the human ear is a little more forgiving in "pitchyness", in the lower ranges.
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Quote:
I have a little trick I do on my recordings. I find the most comfortable key to sing my song in. Then lower it a half-step or step, depending on where it will end up. Then I get up early in the morning and record the vocal in that lower key. Later in the day I would struggle a little to sing that low.
I was recently trying to learn a song from a CD, and it bugged me that it was in the key of Eb because that's tough on guitar even with a capo. I loved the deep vocals in the song. Anyway, to learn it more easily I loaded it into Audacity and raised it a half step to the key of E. When I heard the vocal in that key I immediately realized they had recorded it in E and then dropped it to deepen the singers voice. Comparing the two versions I was surprised how much better the "deeper" voice sounded.
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Thanks to all who pointed out that BIAB has a vocal wizard. Now that it's been mentioned, I remember seeing it before, thinking that it would be useful. In fact, it sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.
Ian,
my current method of determining key is to experiment with the capo. Your idea is certainly not "too simplistic".. I generally prefer simplicity. My biggest problem is that I work such long hours that when I finally have a few minutes to play I want to solve the analytical problems quickly so I can spend more time on the creative stuff.
Noel,
I have had some luck in those keys, depending on the melody. It should be noted I've also crashed and burned in the same keys with different melodies. Hence, the question that started the thread...
;-)
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Pat , We have close to the same system. Have you had any issues with the 64bit Windows7?
AT2020mic> ArtStudioV3VoicedValvePreAmp> M-Audio2496> AMD AthlonII 215 DualCore, 2.7GHz, 5GbDDR3Ram> Win7x64> RealBand>Ozone4> Teac A1D Amp> KRK ST6 Monitors> My old worn out ears
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Quote:
Pat , We have close to the same system. Have you had any issues with the 64bit Windows7?
None at all. But then, that computer is only used for music ... and I haven't had much time for music since I bought it.
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Band in a Box has a built in Wizard that can help you to find your singing range and then can instantly suggest keys in which you can sing any song that is already entered as a BiaB tune.
It is based on exactly the same methods that singing coaches and music schools use, and it works.
Try it.
--Mac
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Quote:
Band in a Box has a built in Wizard that can help you to find your singing range and then can instantly suggest keys in which you can sing any song that is already entered as a BiaB tune.
It is based on exactly the same methods that singing coaches and music schools use, and it works.
Try it.
--Mac
Thanks Mac. I forgot that was part of the BIAB package (so much cool stuff included with BIAB, its easy to miss some of it!)
I will definitely try it... it appears to be exactly what I'm looking for
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