The Secret Key
Since most people like a mystery, I wanted to attract your attention to a topic you might otherwise skip. The real topic: What is the best key for praise and worship?
As a Worship Leader, your first response may be – “The key I sing in.” Well, yes, but there are some other factors that should impact your choice.
First let’s establish your purpose:
Do you want everyone to enthusiastically participate in praise and worship? Of course, you do. Do you want everyone to be able to sing in a comfortable manner so they can focus on worship? Of course, you do.
My concern: I recently attended a church service where the Worship Leader frequently strained at high notes that were well beyond his range. The music was pitched so high that women were forced to sing in what I call, “the operatic zone.” In desperation, many moved to an octave below that, AKA “the basement.” This left sopranos very uncomfortable. Singers from all lead and harmony parts struggled to find places to sing. I would like to say that this was the first time I ever encountered this challenging situation, but it was not. Is this happening on your Worship Team? Keep in mind, as Worship Leaders we are considering the average singers in the church, not lead singers who are comfortable with a higher vocal range.
The following suggestions may help:
Do you know your vocal range? When a Worship Leader consistently strains to sing in a range that is too high for his/her voice, it is uncomfortable for others to sing along. And it is a distraction for worshippers. You may argue that this is the key in which the song is written. Know this: You are not limited to the song’s original key. Sound track producers have already realized this challenge and usually provide three keys to accommodate different voice ranges.
What can you do? Transpose the music to a lower key. What if you don’t know how to transpose the music? Hopefully, Worship Leaders already have at least a basic knowledge of music and one or more instruments. Growing in worship and growing in music skills are all part of the role of the Worship Leader.
If the Worship Leader is unable to transpose the music, how can transposing be accomplished?
· Today, keyboard players can easily transpose music by pressing the transpose button, located on the keyboard’s digital display.
· Guitarists can accommodate a key change by using a capo.
· Your church probably uses a resource called CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International). CCLI provides an optional service which will allow you to print music in the desired key. Those services can be purchased.
· If you have musicians who are skilled in transposing music, they may either do it manually or with music software such as Finale PrintMusic – my favorite. It is a simple point and click program that most people who are computer literate can use.
It is worth taking the time to transpose the music.
Remember: Transposing requires everyone to practice in the new key.
But, I still haven’t told you the best key. Read on - Today, things have changed. Years ago, when hymnals were the only source for congregational singing, the songs were pitched at a comfort level for the men who led worship. (Male Worship Leaders generally sing music a full key above where most women sing, – of course, at a level an octave below the women.) Originally, when music was pitched for the male voice, it required women to sing at a level very similar to the operatic soprano – a range not too many women enjoy. Music in most churches has been adjusted to accommodate a more comfortable range for sopranos.
What if the song is already too high for the Worship Leader? First, let’s get the song into his range. Then, the wise Worship Leader will accommodate the sopranos by lowering the song a full step (i.e. transpose G to F). Will this make the song too low for the male Worship Leader? No. It should be well within his singing range. The benefits of lowering the key are many. Not only do the sopranos get relief, now there is room for high tenor, alto, tenor, and bass singers.
The Best Key – The Secret Key: Lower your music at least a full key (or perhaps a little more) and everyone will have a place to sing that allows them to focus on worship.
© Mary Willock, 2014 - 2020
You have permission to print copies of this article for use in your personal or church related ministry.
Since most people like a mystery, I wanted to attract your attention to a topic you might otherwise skip. The real topic: What is the best key for praise and worship?
As a Worship Leader, your first response may be – “The key I sing in.” Well, yes, but there are some other factors that should impact your choice.
First let’s establish your purpose:
Do you want everyone to enthusiastically participate in praise and worship? Of course, you do. Do you want everyone to be able to sing in a comfortable manner so they can focus on worship? Of course, you do.
My concern: I recently attended a church service where the Worship Leader frequently strained at high notes that were well beyond his range. The music was pitched so high that women were forced to sing in what I call, “the operatic zone.” In desperation, many moved to an octave below that, AKA “the basement.” This left sopranos very uncomfortable. Singers from all lead and harmony parts struggled to find places to sing. I would like to say that this was the first time I ever encountered this challenging situation, but it was not. Is this happening on your Worship Team? Keep in mind, as Worship Leaders we are considering the average singers in the church, not lead singers who are comfortable with a higher vocal range.
The following suggestions may help:
Do you know your vocal range? When a Worship Leader consistently strains to sing in a range that is too high for his/her voice, it is uncomfortable for others to sing along. And it is a distraction for worshippers. You may argue that this is the key in which the song is written. Know this: You are not limited to the song’s original key. Sound track producers have already realized this challenge and usually provide three keys to accommodate different voice ranges.
What can you do? Transpose the music to a lower key. What if you don’t know how to transpose the music? Hopefully, Worship Leaders already have at least a basic knowledge of music and one or more instruments. Growing in worship and growing in music skills are all part of the role of the Worship Leader.
If the Worship Leader is unable to transpose the music, how can transposing be accomplished?
· Today, keyboard players can easily transpose music by pressing the transpose button, located on the keyboard’s digital display.
· Guitarists can accommodate a key change by using a capo.
· Your church probably uses a resource called CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International). CCLI provides an optional service which will allow you to print music in the desired key. Those services can be purchased.
· If you have musicians who are skilled in transposing music, they may either do it manually or with music software such as Finale PrintMusic – my favorite. It is a simple point and click program that most people who are computer literate can use.
It is worth taking the time to transpose the music.
Remember: Transposing requires everyone to practice in the new key.
But, I still haven’t told you the best key. Read on - Today, things have changed. Years ago, when hymnals were the only source for congregational singing, the songs were pitched at a comfort level for the men who led worship. (Male Worship Leaders generally sing music a full key above where most women sing, – of course, at a level an octave below the women.) Originally, when music was pitched for the male voice, it required women to sing at a level very similar to the operatic soprano – a range not too many women enjoy. Music in most churches has been adjusted to accommodate a more comfortable range for sopranos.
What if the song is already too high for the Worship Leader? First, let’s get the song into his range. Then, the wise Worship Leader will accommodate the sopranos by lowering the song a full step (i.e. transpose G to F). Will this make the song too low for the male Worship Leader? No. It should be well within his singing range. The benefits of lowering the key are many. Not only do the sopranos get relief, now there is room for high tenor, alto, tenor, and bass singers.
The Best Key – The Secret Key: Lower your music at least a full key (or perhaps a little more) and everyone will have a place to sing that allows them to focus on worship.
© Mary Willock, 2014 - 2020
You have permission to print copies of this article for use in your personal or church related ministry.