To change the key of a song, open the recording in our online key changer, press ♭ or ♯ once per semitone and download the new version. The tempo and length stay the same, the tool names the original and the new key, and nothing is uploaded. Most singers need a shift of only 1 to 3 semitones.
Change the key of a recording in 4 steps
- Open the song. Choose a file or drop it on the tool: MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, FLAC, or the sound of an MP4, MOV or WebM video, up to 10 minutes. The file is processed on your device.
- Check the original key. The tool detects the key and the tempo (24 of 24 test files correct in our QA). For a second opinion, use the song key finder.
- Shift it. ♭ lowers the song one semitone and ♯ raises it one semitone, up to 12 in either direction. The new key name appears next to the original. Play the chorus and sing along.
- Download. Save the result as MP3 or WAV. The file name includes the new key, so you can find the right version later.
Other sources work the same way. A backing track with a key button: the karaoke pitch changer. A song on YouTube: the YouTube pitch changer. An MP4 where the picture must stay: the video pitch changer.
Pick the new key first, then count the semitones
Every semitone you move changes the key name by one step on the piano, black keys included. For singing, the right shift is the one that puts the highest chorus note just inside your comfortable range. If the chorus strains, go down: what to do when a song is too high. If the verses mumble, go up: what to do when a song is too low. Singing a song by a singer of the other gender usually takes 3 to 7 semitones: male to female key change. Not sure where your voice sits? Take the vocal range test and read what key you should sing in.
| Original key | −3 | −2 | −1 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | A | B♭ | B | D♭ | D | E♭ |
| D major | B | C | D♭ | E♭ | E | F |
| E major | D♭ | D | E♭ | F | F♯ | G |
| F major | D | E♭ | E | F♯ | G | A♭ |
| G major | E | F | F♯ | A♭ | A | B♭ |
| A major | F♯ | G | A♭ | B♭ | B | C |
| B♭ major | G | A♭ | A | B | C | D♭ |
For any two keys, the chart in how many semitones to change key gives the number both ways, and the semitone calculator counts between any two notes. Shifting keeps the mode: a major song stays major. To turn it minor, use the major to minor converter.
Key control or speed control: what happens to a 3:30 song
A key control moves the pitch and keeps the tempo. A speed control (like an old tape or turntable) can reach the same pitch only by playing faster or slower. The table shows the price of doing it with speed, calculated for a 3 minute 30 second song.
| Semitones | Cents | Frequency ratio | Key control: length | Speed control: tempo | Speed control: length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3 | -300 | ×0.8409 | 3:30, same tempo | -15.9 % | 4:10 |
| -2 | -200 | ×0.8909 | 3:30, same tempo | -10.9 % | 3:56 |
| -1 | -100 | ×0.9439 | 3:30, same tempo | -5.6 % | 3:42 |
| +1 | +100 | ×1.0595 | 3:30, same tempo | +5.9 % | 3:18 |
| +2 | +200 | ×1.1225 | 3:30, same tempo | +12.2 % | 3:07 |
| +3 | +300 | ×1.1892 | 3:30, same tempo | +18.9 % | 2:57 |
Two semitones down by speed makes the song 10.9 % slower and 26 seconds longer, which a band or a dancer will notice. That is why a key changer is the right tool. The method behind it is in change pitch without changing speed, and the two ideas are compared in pitch vs tempo.
Doing it in Audacity, GarageBand or on a phone
- Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux): select the track, then Effect → Pitch and Tempo → Change Pitch, and enter the semitones. Full steps: how to change pitch in Audacity.
- GarageBand: it has its own pitch and key settings, which differ between Mac and iPhone. See how to change pitch in GarageBand.
- iPhone and Android: the browser tools above work in the phone browser with no app. Apps and built-in options: how to change pitch on mobile.
- Any DAW: look for a pitch shift or transpose effect on the audio track. The semitone count from the table above is the same in every program.
Why a shifted song can sound unnatural, and how far is safe
A pitch shift moves the notes and also the resonances of voices and instruments, called formants. Small shifts keep them close enough to sound natural; large ones make voices sound thinner (up) or darker and heavier (down).
| Shift | What you usually hear | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| ±1 to ±3 | Sounds like the original in a new key | Use freely; most singers stop here |
| ±4 to ±6 | Voices on the track start to sound thin or dark | Fine for practice; listen before a gig |
| ±7 to ±11 | Clear change in character | Consider the octave instead: sing an octave lower or higher and shift by 12 minus the number |
| ±12 | One octave: same key name, very different sound | Rarely needed for singing |
The pitch itself stays exact. We measured 11 exports of the online key changer: the worst pitch error was 0.041 cents (a cent is 1/100 of a semitone) and the length changed by 0.000 %. What you hear at big shifts is a change in tone colour, not a wrong note. How our pitch shifting works explains the method.
Questions about changing a song’s key
How do you change the key of a song?
Decide how many semitones to move, open the recording in a key changer, shift it by that number and export it. In our browser tool that is one click per semitone, and the tempo stays the same.
How do I lower the key of a song?
Press ♭ once for each semitone down, usually 1 to 3 for singing. Test the highest chorus note after each click and stop when it feels easy.
How do I put my vocals in a certain key?
Find the key of your recorded vocal, count the semitones to the key you want and shift the vocal file by that number. For a new take, shift the backing track first and sing over it; a fresh recording sounds more natural than a shifted voice.
Does changing the pitch change the key?
Yes. Shifting a whole recording by a number of semitones moves its key by the same number. The terms are compared in key change vs pitch change.
What is a key change in music?
Inside a song, a key change (modulation) is a planned move to a new key, such as the last chorus going up a semitone or two. Changing the key of a whole recording is different: every part moves together. See what a song key is.
Can I change the key of a song online for free?
Yes. The online key changer is free, needs no account and works in the browser on a computer or phone, with MP3 and WAV downloads.
All our free pitch and key tools start from the OnlinePitchChanger home page.