[Bob1131]

Originally Posted by Gazzamundo

I used to think G was my key, until just this week when I found that most of the covers I was planning to do (Beatles type stuff) was easier in A. Obviously some kind of transgender thing going on...

I usually start by finding where the chorus sounds best and work from there. I find there are very few songs I attempt that I can do without transposing, and I'll quite often tranpose to a key where I can play my favourite chord shapes, and then capo it if need be. I'd be lost without my capo these days.

Also, I find it's best that when I work a song out, I have to stretch just a little for those top notes, so that when it comes to playing live, it'll give the number a bit of intensity/emotion/whatever. Especially if your voice breaks going for that note - the audience will think you're just overcome by the emotional intensity of it all! Are you sure this how Mariah Carey started out?

Exactly!!