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Thank you all, this thread has been a great help and I guess it would be for any beginner who wants to sing along to their playing.

As my earlier post suggested, I’ve been struggling to sing quite a few songs because I can’t quite get the key right even though the range didn’t seem too far out for me.

Initially before this post I thought a capo was simply used to transpose the key of a song to the way it is “supposed† to be played as intended by the original artist.  I didn’t realise you could manipulate the key to suit your vocal range, I had simply never thought about it,  to busy practising the guitar I suppose.

Anyway, to the point; I went through my songbook last night and just sung the first verse and chorus of each song, I noticed that all songs which started with and predominantly stay close to E, F or G (plus minors obviously), I was able to sing ok, certainly ok enough to stop the local dogs howling in return! 
However I started to struggle on songs which start with and predominantly stay around on A and C (I don’t have that many with B’s but I’d assume they’d be in there too?), so I experimented with the Capo.  What I found was songs which start with and predominantly stay around A I needed to Capo on 2, and likewise C I needed to capo on 4. 
I concluded that these chords are a little high for me, but I’d have thought I’d  need to transpose down rather than up but I guess this is where harmony between certain notes and chords come into the equation.   
The funny thing was, songs which start with D seemed ok but I did run out of time so I rushed this.  However, this fits in with Kajima when he says most D songs revert to Em and E.

Is this a normal scenario?  I guess that A, B and C chords are not too high for me but simply don’t harmonise with my “howl† correctly??  If I sing these songs without a capo, the key of my voice wanders all over the shop until I settle at a pitch that sounds like Michael Jackson with his bits in a vice??

Cheers

Well it's good to know your all good singers, I sound like a pack of dogs howling at feeding time!

What I have found tho is that playing alot of my songs with a capo on the first or second fret (mainly first) helps alot as the key is much more sympathetic to my howling!  I find using a capo far easier than transposing the chords to a suitable key, I have enough trouble playing a regular G without changing it to a Bmaj7b....or some other dodgy chord that requires 7 fingers!

Seriously tho, do any others find using a capo for a lot of songs easier?

What a total muppet! 

I've also noticed a lot of songs being pulled but there are still thousands to pick from! If your after a particular song and it's not here, use another website, you don't have to be exclusive to Chordie...do you?  Personally, I copy all my song into a book as it's easier to carry that around than a computer.

Anyhow, this whole issue of copyright is like a car manufacturer pulling all repair manuals off the shelf to stop people actually making their own Ford!  Rediculous!

Keep up the good work Chordie!

I recall seeing him on the Jules Holland show on the BBC a few weeks back, he has a new album out.  He sounded as good now as he did "back in the day"!

Brilliant, Cheers

Hi Topdown,

It would be great if you get get a copy on here, I now the min chords but haven't got a clue with the 7ths. 

Cheers
Crevs

Tops! Thanks for all the comments, just what I guessed really.  I have to admit, the more I practice them the better they sound although I haven't started on the A string chords yet.

Cheers for everyone's comments and advice. 

I suppose my heart will always be in acoustic music, I just love the natural, soulful sound you get, it's such a diverse instrument.  I'd pretty much rather an acoustic version of a song over any version and in my experience of listening to music (not playing), I find the songs that you'd never expect to work acoustically usually sound the best.  I just love the MTV unplugged sessions and also BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge sessions by Joe Wiley are fantastic (for everyone outside the UK or not familiar with the Live Lounge sessions, Joe Wiley invites artists into the studio and they play one of their own songs and a cover af someone elses).  If you haven't heard any of these try and get hold of one of few albums out there, they're great.

Anyway.. As well as having a love of acoustic music I grew up on my dad's music, Deep Purple, Led Zeplin, Cream and I then moved onto Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motorhead etc so I've always had an urge to crank things up a little.  So on the weekend I bought a cheap Fender and 50watt Amp and away we go!

On balance I'd still rather play the acoustic but it's great to then get up and blast off the Smoke on the Water or Whole Lotta Lovin' riffs!

Seriously tho, put on the earphones and I can bash away to my hearts content with the wife and kids watching me in shock from Sofa without hearing a thing apart from my athritic joints crumbling beneath me ;?)

I race bicycles, it can be really demanding, having to train the 250 - 300 miles per week on top of a job and family.  At 37 I'm just starting to struggle and I have been asking myself if it's time to hang up my wheels.  I've been racing for 15 years and before that I played rugby before an injury put an end to that!  I've never had a relaxing period in my life an I think I want one?

I'm starting to think that it's probably the guitar that has given me a new direction, either that or old age??

Interesting to see so many people into wood working, I did an old fashioned 4 year apprenticeship as a bench joiner and although the work was satisfying the money was poor and the hours long!  I re trained and I'm now a local government worker in an accounts dept, the money's good, hours short but no job satisfaction! I'd love to have a little workshop and knock out some furniture.

I'm not sure if this is what you're after but it doesn't get more haunting than Clannad - Theme from Harry's Game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5orfCHMmM8