How to Find Your Key Part I: What is a Key?

Songs are moveable, up and down, with regard to pitch. Maybe you’ve noticed that when you’re in a room full of people singing “Happy Birthday” together, sometimes the song is particularly low in your voice, sometimes it is particularly high, or occasionally it’s just right. Your comfort level with the highest notes and the lowest notes in the song is reliant on the key in which the song is being sung. Whoever begins the instance of “Happy Birthday” (or whoever sings the loudest) actually has the responsibility of setting the pitch level, or key, whether they know it or not. Your fate is in their hands. Usually, you can tell right away if you are going to make it through the song full-voice, or if you’ll have to lighten up considerably on the high notes or fake the low ones. If you’re an accomplished singer, you might adapt quickly and not have these problems at all — good for you!

Figure 1: Melody of Happy Birthday in Bb Major

Figure 2: Melody of Happy Birthday in C Major

Figure 3: Melody of Happy Birthday in G Major

Look at the figures above to see what the melody of “Happy Birthday” looks like in several different keys. You’ll notice that all the notes shift up or down on the staff depending on the key, effectively making the whole song higher or lower in pitch. Different keys have a different assortment of sharps (#) and flats (b) at the beginning of the staff to let musicians know what the key is, right off the bat. One sharp means we are in G major (Figure 3), two flats means Bb major (Figure 1), no sharps or flats is C major (Figure 2)… There are 12 keys in all: 12 pitch levels, or keys, at which you could possibly sing “Happy Birthday.” The purpose of sharps and flats is interesting, but beyond the scope of this article.

Side note: If someone asks you what key your sheet music is in, it’s enough to tell them how many sharps or flats there are, and they have their answer.

So why would a singer prefer one key over another?

As I said, when you sing “Happy Birthday” with a group, you might find that it’s a little too low or a little too high for comfort, or for your preferred vocal quality. Notice the people around you. Why are some of them able to sing so boldly in the "meat" of their voices while others seem stuck in a weaker part of their voice? Everyone is having a different vocal response, simultaneously, to the same key: It’s perfect for some people in the room, and less good for others. Luckily, you’re all singing together, and it’s not the most demanding song, so who cares!

Now imagine you are Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner solo, in front of millions of people. Suddenly key is enormously important. That particular song has a very large range, which means the distance between the lowest notes and the highest notes is especially (notoriously!) wide, and it’s incredibly important that Whitney not only manages to reach all the notes, but that she sounds glorious while doing it. Some serious consideration went into the choosing of that particular key for that particular performance, in 1991 in Tampa, FL. If it had been just a step higher or lower, it might have significantly altered some of the vocal choices Whitney famously made. The key of her version of the Star Spangled Banner is part of the greatness of that celebrated performance. Interestingly, years later, Whitney’s music director admitted that the network was concerned about her choice of key. They were worried that the audience wouldn’t be able to sing along!

So... how do we choose the right key?

Usually, singers work with their music directors and/or coaches who help them choose the keys of their songs. The success of a song is often dependent on what key it is in, and how that key supports the soloist. Keys have the power to help a singer sound… well… powerful! Or sweet, or desperate, or any number of ways. “Unbreak My Heart” by Toni Braxton is so memorable partially because the key puts Toni so low in her voice. Imagine if Aretha Franklin sang “Respect” down there. Or if Britney Spears sang “Hit Me Baby” way up high, the way Aretha sang “Respect”. These key adjustments would completely change the songs and how we receive them. Sing your favorite song in a few keys. Start a little high in your voice, start a little lower in your voice. What key works best for your voice on that particular song?