Finding the Key You Sing In
 

I've got a friend of mine who wants to order a CD with a song which is just the music so she can sing along with it. (I don't recall the song).. But she want's to know what Key she sings in..

I believe this is possible.. I've found songs in D and A are easiest for my self.

Any hints on figuring this out for her??
I can play guitar and shift the key of songs around until I hit it right... Is that what you'd do??

Pretty much...
 

You might want to try using a capo first if you find that you like to play in a certain key and she's not real comfortable with it, may be just a little sharp or flat. Gives you some options for fine tuning :D .

That's the ticket.

You can sing in any key, as long as the notes are within your vocal range.

The vocal range is the key question. Some songs I can sing in the key of A, some I can't, if they're digging too low or climbing too high...

Finding the Key You Sing In
 

Have her sing a favorite song a capella and hold the last note of a verse or refrain. While she's holding that note sound a guitar string and slide up the fingerboard until you find that note. That is most likely the key she's singing in. If the last note is an A, for example, she may be in A major (3 sharps) or she may be in A minor (no sharps or flats). Your ear will have to tell you whether it's major or minor. It's possible to have a song that doesn't resolve to the tonic note but most of the songs we learn will follow that convention.

Depending on the song, you may have to sing in other keys in order to keep your voice in your comfortable range.

This is a very good idea.. It's just natural that what she sings in would actually be her key. I'll try this out.

Range determination...
 

Egad's I think we got it.. Close anyway.

My friend has a really great voice and quite a wide range right now.
But we determined with 3-4 songs, the key of C seems to be the best key for her, We tried a number of other songs in other keys but there was always something that was too low or too high.

Once I adjusted the songs to the key of C, even if I had to capo like 6 frets, she was able to sing them with no problems. We then were also able to note other songs she does very well, and here favorites, and they were consistantly key of C songs.

I realize key of C is very common, so it wouldn't be surprising to find C songs that she could do well.. But she also expressed that older hymnals, lots of Bb and F's, she can't do, and there were problems with G songs too, which we commonly do. C isn't just a cop-out.

This is a great information.....
 

I always sings in what I call the key of "Out of key"! :D

Good for you...
 

Great progress!
 

If your friend has a problem with "keys" its most likely in the way she hears the song or a difficulty in transposing pitch in her head. Sounds like she's got the lungs for it all. She should probably try expanding a bit. "G" should be no problem. F. A and D require a litle more work. See what she can do with Eb. Just drop a half step and play in E. Works for alot of things. :D