VOCALS
PICKING THE RIGHT KEY : THE WHYS AND HOWS FOR SINGERS | Renee Maranan
In this article , we ’ ll discuss why it ’ s important for vocalists to understand the process of key selection , and how they can select keys for songs that will get the best results out of their voices .
A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON KEYS In the simplest terms , the “ key ” refers to the set of seven notes that are included and used in any particular piece of music . Anyone who ’ s heard of the song “ Do-Re-Mi ” from The Sound of Music will probably be familiar with those seven notes and how to sing them in order , at least in major scales . The key determines the notes that are played ( or not played ) in a melody , as well as the chords that are played to accompany the melody . One visual tool that I use to illustrate this concept is to imagine the key as a dinner tray – the bass line is the plate , the chords are the mashed potatoes , and the melody and harmony are the peas and carrots . The tray holds the entire dinner on its surface , and you can lift or lower the plate , potatoes , peas and carrots by lifting or lowering the tray . This is how keys work in music .
Here are some ways that it can affect singers specifically :
• It can make the song harder or easier to sing . Raising or lowering the key can help singers navigate their vocal breaks or avoid the extreme ends of their range .
• It can make the song sound vocally better … or worse . Depending on the tessitura or comfortable range of the singer , raising or lowering the song can either place it more squarely within their comfort zone or outside of it . Changing keys can also amp up or mute certain tonal qualities in a singer ’ s voice . This means that the right key can make a singer ’ s voice sound more resonant and rich , while the wrong key might make the voice sound more dull or shrill .
• It can impact harmonies . Raising the key may eliminate higher harmonies , while lowering keys might eliminate lower harmonies .
A VOCALIST ’ S CHECKLIST FOR KEY CHANGES Here are some things for singers to think about when considering key changes :
• What ’ s the bottom note and the top note going to be ? Are those in your comfortable or workable singing range ? If the answer is no , this could be a good reason for considering a key change .
• Are the low notes in the song giving you enough chest voice , without being too low ? Sometimes singers need to consider lowering the key if they ’ re not getting to sing in their full chest voice enough through the piece . It ’ s important for singers to establish a foundation of chest voice within the melody to create enough weight and stability in their voice for the higher parts of the song . The chest voice is also what lends richness and depth to a singer ’ s sound . On the other hand , if the song is too low , the voice could lose some of its brilliance and brightness . It can also make the singer sound like they ’ re “ bottoming out ” on the lowest notes of the song .
• How often do the bottom and top notes occur in the song ? How long will you need to sustain them and how much will they need to be repeated ? A singer might be able to hit the bottom or top notes once or twice , but there may be challenges if those notes have to be repeated a lot or sustained for several measures .
• Where is the song ’ s emotional or musical climax , and where does that sit in your range ? Is the musical peak sitting in a part of your range that is comfortable or at least functional ? Will you be able to sustain the intensity and range required for this section ? There are some parts of a song that are of higher emotional or musical value than others . Singers can make strategic choices about key changes by prioritizing the parts of the song that deliver high emotional or musical pay back .
OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO SONG KEYS Vocalists need to be able to advocate for themselves when making key selections , but it ’ s also important to consider the bigger picture . Certain keys make it very difficult for instrumentalists to play specific musical parts , and in those cases , a compromise may need to be made .
It ’ s also very important to consider what the congregation can sing – after all , as worship musicians , our role is to ensure that the congregation can actively participate in worship .
And lastly , if you are finding that you ’ re constantly struggling with finding the right key due to challenges with vocal function , fatigue , or control , it might be a good idea to consider seeking vocal training .
Renee Maranan Vocal Instructor | Life Coach Ambassador for the Institute for Vocal Advancement www . ReneeMaranan . com Instagram @ reneemaranan
36 July 2023 Subscribe for Free ...