When a man sings a song originally performed by a woman—or vice versa—the karaoke key often needs adjustment.
It can be difficult to know how far to transpose it, so here is the approach I use.
A Useful Starting Point
For many men, a song by a female singer is too high in the original key but too low one octave down.
To find a comfortable point between them, begin by changing the key by five semitones.
For a man singing a song written for a female voice, try lowering it by five. For a woman singing a song written for a male voice, try raising it by five.
The ideal setting depends on the original song and your range, but this usually brings you close.
Remember That Transposition Changes the Backing Track
When a man lowers a song by several steps, the bass in the backing track can become so low that it is difficult to hear.
The vocal key may feel comfortable while the accompaniment becomes hard to follow.
In that case, try raising the key instead.
Lowering a song by five semitones and raising it by seven semitones produce the same pitch class, one octave apart.
If lowering the accompaniment does not work, raise it and sing the equivalent notes in a range that suits you.
Conclusion
The best method is to go to karaoke alone and test the song one semitone at a time.
Do not give up on a favorite song because it was written for a different voice type. Adjust the key and find a version you can enjoy singing.
