Pass one: sing it as recorded

Sing along with the recording at its original key and notice where the song turns difficult. Is it the high chorus, the low verse, or both? Do not push through it. The goal of the first pass is only to learn where your voice stops being comfortable.

Pass two: move it a step at a time

Click the icon and press − if the high notes were the problem, or + if the low notes were. Sing the same section again. Repeat in single semitone steps. Stop at the first setting where the hard spot feels easy rather than possible, and sing the whole song once more to check that nothing else got worse.

Pass three: write it down

Note the number for the song, for example “−3”. Singers who keep a repertoire list often write the key next to the title, and the number tells you where that key sits relative to the recording. PitchShed also remembers it per song, so the key is already set when you open the video again.

Things that change the answer

  • A warm voice and a cold voice want different keys, so sing the test after warming up.
  • Singing softly and singing loudly stretch your range differently, so test at the volume you will perform at.
  • A key that suits one song in your set may not suit the next, so expect a different number for each song.

When two keys both feel fine

If two neighboring settings both feel comfortable, take the lower one for a long, demanding song and the higher one for a short, bright one. A key that is easy at the start of a set can be a stretch at the end, so leave yourself a little room.