This is probably a question where the answer is obvious but I'll ask it anyway. I want to switch from from solo piano to accompaniment piano playing, mainly accompanying myself singing. From experimentation,I know that I am a baritone with my lowest voice note being G2 and highest being E4.

Question: how many piano key signatures can I play and still sing comfortably and what are they? Are they within the lower, middle or upper piano registers? If possible, I'd like to limit my study to no more than 3 keys, most probably G, F and Bb - correct?

Thanks.

Fil

It's probably going to depend on the pieces in question. The key signature is not going to be as important as what the low and top notes required for the piece's vocal part are.

In fact, when you buy sheet music online, some sites give you the option for a transposed version and the browser interface will tell you the vocal range based on the key you choose.

Another thing, particularly for pop music, etc is that the vocal line is almost always in the treble clef, regardless of the voice.

Most pop music is for a tenor or high baritone voice (E4 won't cut it - I can manage F4 OK and squeak out a G4 if I'm lucky).

In choir I sing Bass 1 - which means baritone if there's a split. Sometimes, if necessary, I may take tenor 2 (e.g. lower tenor).