# Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey Source: https://pitchhighway.com/songs/lana-del-rey-young-and-beautiful Site: PitchHighway — learn to sing your favorite songs (https://pitchhighway.com) --- ## Measured data - Key: C minor - Vocal phrasing tempo: ~71 BPM (median pace of the sung phrases, measured from real uploads — it can sit below the song's beat BPM on sustained passages) - Vocal range: A#2–A4 (23 semitones) - Tessitura (middle 50% of sung time): C#4–E4 - Longest note: E4 held 2.4s - Difficulty: hard - Range fit: fits inside 28% of the 3958 vocal ranges measured on PitchHighway (whole-octave shift allowed) --- ## Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey: key, range, and difficulty Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful,” written for *The Great Gatsby* soundtrack, is commonly listed in C minor. This page covers the song’s key, measured vocal range, where the vocal line sits most often, and what makes it challenging to sing. The analyzed vocal line spans A#2–A4, with most of its notes between C#4 and E4. Its phrasing tempo is about 71 BPM, and its overall difficulty is rated hard. The range gives a useful first check, but the full span does not describe every moment of the performance. The line reaches from a low A#2 to an A4, so singers need access to both low notes and a much higher part of the voice. Most of the song sits in a narrower middle area, around C#4–E4. That central tessitura can feel manageable for singers who are comfortable there, while the low and high edges still ask for flexibility across registers. ## What makes it easy or hard to sing The measured difficulty is hard, and the 23-semitone range helps explain why. The song asks the voice to cover more than an octave and a half, from A#2 to A4. A singer may have the notes individually but still need to move between them without changing tone abruptly or pushing at the top. The lower end calls for a relaxed, supported sound rather than a forced chest voice; the upper end calls for a steady transition into the singer’s higher register. The line sits mostly at C#4–E4, which gives the song a central home base. That can help singers settle into the main phrases before dealing with the extremes. The measured phrasing tempo of about 71 BPM is slow, so there is time to shape notes and place breaths. Slow phrasing also makes uneven airflow easier to hear. A singer who runs out of breath or lets a note lose focus has fewer quick syllables to hide behind. The longest measured note is E4, held for 2.4 seconds. That is a practical test of breath control and pitch steadiness, especially if the note follows a phrase that has used too much air. Aim for a clear start, even volume, and a controlled release. Don’t spend extra breath pushing the note louder than the phrase needs. ## Who it suits The song may suit low altos, contraltos, and lower mezzos whose comfortable range includes the A#2–A4 span. The central C#4–E4 area is a better guide to day-to-day comfort than the outer notes alone. A singer who feels at ease in that middle area may still need to work on the bottom note, the upper extension, or both. Singers with higher voices can also try it, but should check whether the low passages stay clear without pressing down. Those with lower voices should check that A4 remains comfortable rather than strained. A range match does not guarantee that the original key will feel right. If the lowest notes disappear or the upper notes tighten, try a transposition that keeps the melody comfortable. Preserve the line’s phrasing and tone as you adjust; the goal is a controlled performance, not simply reaching every note once. ## How to practice it Start by singing the central phrases around C#4–E4 at a comfortable volume. Keep the jaw loose and let the breath move steadily through each phrase. Next, isolate the transitions toward A#2 and A4. Approach the low note without forcing extra weight, then return to the middle range and check that your tone stays connected. For the upper passages, use a light, clear onset instead of increasing pressure as the pitch rises. Practice the 2.4-second E4 separately. Take a quiet breath beforehand, sustain the pitch evenly, and release it without letting the sound collapse. Then put it back into the full phrase and notice whether the preceding words leave enough air. Since the phrasing tempo is about 71 BPM, work slowly enough to make clean breaths and accurate entries, then build toward the original pace without rushing. Upload the song to PitchHighway and learn it phrase by phrase.