Why You Must RE-Pitch Songs!
Why You MUST Re-Pitch Songs!
Have you ever sensed that there is a song that you may be able to sing but there is a particular section that just doesn’t want to ‘obey your wishes’ for it to be so?
I remember the first play that I took part in and my particular role was a singing role. This was a great opportunity for me, except that I was out of my depth in so many ways.
Firstly, I was new to acting and had a lead part. So I was particularly troubled as I had no idea how long it would take for me to learn lines, become fit enough for the physicality of the play, and sing two songs that no ordinary male - including myself - is able to accomplish.
And all of this was to be achieved whilst running a business and looking after a family.
This is, for the most part, an idea based around re-pitching songs, but there are similarities with approaching any artistic project in life.
You Always Want More Voice Than The Song You’re Singing
In hindsight, I should never have sung the songs in question in their original key. I not only couldn't ‘just hit the notes’ - I couldn't even get close.
Have you ever sung along with something on the radio, only to find yourself yelling and singing out of tune pretty badly?
Well, it was like that for me but worse.
The particular songs in question were sung by two rock stars who fit in the category of ’80’s Rock singers with an almost female instrument.
Instead of listening to what my body was trying to tell me vs what the director of the play was telling me, I ploughed on through and sung both of the songs in their original key.
The Result -
Yelling. Screaming. Wailing. Embarrassment.
If I could have that time all over again I would have done the following:
- re-pitched the song where the chorus in the original key became my climax notes
- suggested some alternative songs
- shed my ego and given someone else in the cast with a lighter voice than mine an opportunity to shine
Would I be conceding defeat?
Would I prove myself a failure?
Would I confirm to myself and everyone else that I was a terrible singer?
No to all of the above!
There is a general rule when it comes to singing and that is - you always want and need to have more voice than the song you’re singing.
This allows the mind to disengage from the act of singing so as to relax and get the strained look off your face.
(Reminds me of a time one of my coaches said to me “No offence, but at the moment the look on your face shows me you’ve got a great voice for radio.”)
You may be asking - but isn’t that shying away from the challenge?
Not at all. The challenge is in training your voice every day. Rocking up to auditions. Taking your opportunities. Being challenged within your own capabilities.
I am a lyric tenor.
This means that I have a lighter voice than most men, but it is generally quite powerful in an unusual part of the male range.
I don’t get to sing the songs of Journey, John Farnham, Peter Cetera (Chicago) in their original keys, but this is where lowering the key comes into play.
I also don’t get to sing some of my favourite artists who have deeper sounding qualities to their tone than mine. In this case, I would actually re-key the song higher to accentuate the certain qualities of my voice.
What is true for me is true for you.
If you’re a bass or alto singer (deep voices, man and woman) then you’re going to have a particular quality and capability as a singer. You will also have limits and you need to know those limits so that you can develop properly and settle into your vocal personality (a whole other conversation).
So let me encourage you to consider where your voice sits!
Sing along to a range of artists and take note as to what your voice does easily, and what it struggles to do. (A clue - singing breathy to hit a certain note is cheating).
This is a start.