Determining key for vocals

Dear forum people,

I would appreciate some basic tips on how people find the optimum key for vocals of a song.

Some tips, specially if they go beyond 'vocal range' and trial and error, and can be expeditious, and even better if there's some technique about it, like maybe some simple math, or such.

I feel there's got to be something technical about it, specially since Band In a Box has a facility for doing that, but so far no explanations as to what principles or algorithm it uses, or how optimum its results are.

I've searched for this in the past to no avail, and thought perhaps some people here had some info or tips on this.

Of course, I'd appreciate any type of tip or technique, on this, technical or not. Does intuition work on this? Sometimes? Rules of Thumb? Things like that too, I'd be interested.

Thanks.

Hi Mike, and thanks for your comments.

I agree with what you are saying.

This is not for other people's voice, but for my own improving, though.

I can accomp myself in most keys, songs I hear and try to learn, but was wondering if there is some sort of technique, rather than what sometimes can be frustrating as trial and error.

I am coming though to some kind of an understanding that no matter how much one likes a song, it may not be made particularly for one's ability, not matter what the key.

That's why I kind of wondered, in particular, for the "optimum" key to sing a song in. Plus so many other factors, of course.

So, I do agree, much of this is overthinking.

I also was wondering if anyone knew what kind of fourmula Band In a Box uses to suggest a key to sing a song into, for those that are familiar with that feature. For I just play the melody, and record it, and based on one's range, it suggest a key for the song...But I's trying to understand what they do there, and so one can figure it out without having to use the program..It doubt if it'd be a complicated formula. I don't say it gives perfect results, either, but maybe once I understand it, it can be more meaningful, and lead to some tricks.

Thanks again.

Write some of the melody or all of it, and try it in different keys until one sounds AND feels good- That is the only way in my world

George Martin spent considerable time determining the best keys for the Beatles vocals.  In his book, he mentioned that he would often record songs in keys that were in the upper range of their vocal ranges because it resulted in the vocal performances sounding more passionate as they were slightly straining to "hit" the notes.

Here ya go...

http://www.amazon.com/All-You-Need-Ears-personal/dp/0312114826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271117015&sr=8-1

thnx dave!

Thanks everyone for the comments and pointers.

My question is not casual at all. I have been through researching this in forums and I gather that what seems casual and natural in pros has a lot of effort behind, which I obviously lack, for music for me is a hobby. But lately, a couple of years or so, have been trying in more earnest, to learn and figure out things.

I also feel that this is a very important issue, for vocals, and from my searchs, I gather many people have this type of inquietude.

I realize also that there is probably no one single answer, but for instance, the Beatles, with goood ear, talent, and practice, (no doubt), still had technical advisers, as mentioned by Dave King.


I thank savageopera for his helpful comment, which checks with my  personal observations...I have not tried yet without musical accomp, or have tried it briefly, though I find that the mind is tricky and wants to stick to a given key, usually the one in which the original song is recorded.

I also find that when I am playing at random, just improvising, some songs come to mind, and they seem to be proper to the keys I'm hitting.

I also have found that if I can whistle it, I have a better chance of singing it, as for me, it seems that the voice range is about the same as the voice range. But I am sure that's not totally true, either.

I also have found that there are "tricks" to making a song easier to sing, but I am still too new and inexperienced to have any final sayings, even as to my own case.

Figuring out the proper chords for the song, is also very important. On that, I have found that some songs in the web are not quite the best way to harmonize them. So I do spend often more time than I thought I would in that, when I am learning a song.

Well, thanks everyone, again.