Transposing songs query + key

Hi

Thanks Camille for a nice session on transposing songs :) 

I was kinda wondering about singing off-key vs changing keys for our range? Do singers ultimately need to sing in the same key as the original song for it to be sang well? 

Thanks 

My pleasure, Kerr!

Great question. Not at all! Singers often transpose songs so they fit more comfortably with their range and voice type.

Here's a great example: "Ocean Eyes" (Billie Eilish) is originally in the key of G - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viimfQi_pUw. 

Tori Kelly recently covered this song and transposed it down (1 whole step, or 2 half steps/semitones) to the key of F - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGeSC50J7N0. 

Each voice is unique! I encourage you to find the "sweet spot" on any given song for your voice. Maybe the original key is best, but maybe it isn't!

 Thank so much for showing the examples, Camille :) 

I dont know alot about music theory, what does it mean by G key/ F key  (is that a group of notes?)

and steps/semitones when I try to find the right key for myself? 

Thank you 

Yes - it's a group of pitches in a specific order! (G includes G A B C D E and F#; whereas F includes F G A Bb C D and E). 

You can find your highest and lowest comfortable note, and then compare that with the highest and lowest pitch in a song; but I think it's easiest to just sing along with the original song and transpose it up or down if it's too low or high. A little trial and error, but you can find a good key for you (for that specific song) just by trying it out and seeing how it feels. Search for "[title of song] karaoke higher" or "[title of song] karaoke female key", for example, if it's a song that's too low or sung by a male singer. You can search for a "lower" track as well. And if that doesn't exist online, use https://www.karaoke-version.com/mp3-backingtrack/karaoke.html or http://onlinetonegenerator.com/pitch-shifter.html.