Karaoke Forums

On every karaoke song I've seen, there's always some kindda "Abm, Bbm, A, B ect...". I can only assume that it's some sort of music notes indication, but what exactly are they? thanks, bugs the crap out of me haha.

Those are the key in which the song is played/recored:

Abm : Key of A flat minor
Bbm : B flat minor
etc

oh cool, thanks. One very very quick question. Are those keys label accurate?

The song "I will carry you" by clay aiken and "100 years" by five for fighting is listed as the same key, but I don't think they are (check them out on youtube if you can), that's why it had me confuse, I'm just listening by ears because I don't know music, but it doesn't sound the same to me.

I don't think anyone would stake their life on accuracy. Usually they are accurate, though I think Chartbuster makes more mistakes than Soundchoice on keys (and bars of break).

I never paid much attention to the accuracy of the key labeling as shown by the manufacturers.  While errors in labeling those keys could become a problem to someone with perfect pitch, I not sure how many of the rest of us would be effected by any such errors?

If someone learns to sing the song along with the original and then the karaoke version is in a different key (which is not a labeling issue) that could be a real bummer.  

Unless you know the "time" (3/4, 4/4, 2/4, cuttime, etc) that the music was written in, the number of measures of rest are not helpful, even if accurately displayed!

If you have a pitch correction appliance and need to input the correct key to get it to work, it could be important.

Here's the thing with karaoke recordings - they are not always recorded in the artists key.  So, the karaoke tracks of those songs may both be in the same key, but the original recording artists may have recorded them in a different key.

As far as I know, the key listed next to the track is accurate - for that track.  Karaoke manufacturer's - and some times sheet music publishers - will put a song in a key considered easier for "most" people to sing.

Just one example I am aware of - Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera starts out in the original show key, but modulates only a half step instead of a full step so that the final high note is a B flat rather than a High C.  This is true of the Hal Leonard sheet music and the karaoke versions I have come across.

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Interesting

Thank you Kitty!

I should bow to your superior musical knowledge, but I will stick in my two cents. I believe it is considered gospel that DK is the only manufacturer who consistently does this. SC, CB, and PHM will all do it in the key originally released by the artist who made it popular.

Bear in mind that the artist in question may later do versions which are not in that key....and I am sure theatrical companies do this too, to fit the voice of their star.

Ok, I'll just ignore those things and just ball park it. I don't think they're the same key, 1 seems to be higher than others. But then again it's just my ears, I can't read music even if my life depends on it, so I'm thinking that I'm at fault in this situation too.

BTW: how do you know which key is "natural" for a particular voice? thanks.

It is very possible that the songs are in the same key but at different octaves.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I was speaking generally.  I'm not aware enough of the practices of different karaoke manufacturer's to say for sure which ones do or don't do this.  I do know I have come across tracks (and sheet music) that are in a different (usually lower) key from what the artist originally recorded - the key that most people would generally be familiar with.  Of course, if you don't have perfect pitch, or know that the song was recorded in A and you're karaoke track is in C, it's unlikely you'd notice a difference.

Yes, theatrical productions routinely change keys depending on who is in the role at the time.  Again, unless you have perfect pitch, as an audience member, you're not likely to notice.  Here's an example of when it IS obvious, however - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBLdZ4vG8H8  Wait for the key change on the second verse.  It's obvious because it's a duet and Taye cannot sing in the same key as Idina.

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

There isn't one specific key that is "natural" for a particular voice.  You may sing one song in C and another one in F.  It's a matter of where a song is comfortable for you to sing it - with out straining for top notes or "growling" out low notes (unless that's the sound you want).  Some of it is a personal preference.  You may be capable of singing a song in more than one key, but, there is probably something about one key that sits nicer in your voice or that you simply prefer the way it sounds in one key over the other.

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

thank you OperaKitty, that explains so much ... I'm just starting and there's alot of things I don't know, feel stupid asking sometimes haha.

You're very welcome.  I'm very glad to help out anyone any way I can.  Never feel stupid for asking a question - it's likely you're not the only one who has that question - and there are quite a few of us here who will have an answer for you and are happy to help you out.  :yes:

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"