4

I have been listening to old recordings of sing-alongs. It wasnt too low for me as a tenor. Today many people sing too low for me. I am thinking of music from older movies.

I actually like this key. It works well for tenors. It is not too low. It is often too low when I try to sing with people today. Did people sing higher before? And if so what was the reason for it?

1
  • 1
    At least in classical music the trend is towards higher and higher pitches, an effect called pitch inflation, see this question, so I tend to answer no.
    – guidot
    Commented May 16, 2019 at 13:44

1 Answer 1

9

Perhaps I (and Cheddar) can be of assistance.

Essentially, this video covers how the invention of the microphone influenced the early 20th century music/recording industry and how it changed the music being produced, including the shift in popularity from tenors-only to more baritone/bass voices.

Namely, male singers had to sing higher to be recorded, but with the microphone, they didn't need to have high voices to be heard.

1
  • 2
    There are probably other reasons, including popular taste, but this is a cool chunk of info. Commented May 16, 2019 at 13:11

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.