One of the greatest obstacles to participative worship is singing songs in keys too high (or occasionally too low) for the average congregational singer. Understanding acceptable vocal ranges for average singers certainly helps worship leaders choose good keys, but for some, the process is quite a chore. Today I release a chart of the top 100 CCLI songs, listed alphabetically, with the best keys to insure great congregational singing.
The resource also includes a link to the audio for every song to help you in evaluating new songs for worship. In addition, I have constructed a playlist of the Top 100 CCLI Songs that you can stream anytime you have an internet connection.
The chart of songs and their choice keys is copied below (current as of November 2012) but a regularly updated table will be located on the Renewing Worship website that you can reference any time you need it. I will be adding additional songs to the list in the coming months.
We’ve added in links to the Worship Backing Band MultiTracks (in orange). Click through to these for chord charts too.
Be sure to check out the keys of the songs you are planning for this weekend. Have you selected keys conducive to great congregational singing?
Click here for a printable copy of this information.
Song | Rank | Ideal Keys | Key Range | |
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) (Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman) | 59 | Eb, E | Eb-E | audio |
Above All (Lenny LeBlanc, Paul Baloche) | 52 | Ab, A | G-A | audio |
Agnus Dei (Michael W. Smith) | 70 | G, Ab, A | G-A | audio |
All Because Of Jesus (Steve Fee) | 60 | A, Bb | Ab-Bb | audio |
All Who Are Thirsty (Brenton Brown, Glenn Robertson) | 88 | F, G | Eb-G | audio |
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, John Newton) | 8 | D, Eb | D-Eb | audio |
As The Deer (Martin Nystrom) | 74 | C, D | Bb-D | audio |
Awesome God (Rich Mullins) | 87 | em, fm | cm-fm | audio |
Awesome Is The Lord Most High (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Cary Pierce, Jon Abel) | 96 | F | Eb-G | audio |
Beautiful One (Tim Hughes) | 34 | C | Bb-C# | audio |
Before the Throne Above (Charitie Lees Bancroft, Vikki Cook) | 84 | (D) | (D) | audio |
Better Is One Day (Matt Redman) | 41 | Eb | D-Eb | audio |
Blessed Be Your Name (Beth Redman, Matt Redman) | 4 | Bb | A-Bb | audio |
Breathe (Marie Barnett) | 43 | G, Ab, A | G-Bb | audio |
Came To My Rescue (Joel Davies, Marty Sampson, Dylan Thomas) | 89 | Bb | Bb | audio |
Christ Is Risen (Matt Maher, Mia Fieldes) | 99 | C, D* | C-Eb | audio |
Come Now Is The Time To Worship (Brian Doerksen) | 21 | D, Eb | C-Eb | audio |
Days Of Elijah (Robin Mark) | 29 | Ab, A | G-Bb | audio |
Desert Song (Brooke Fraser) | 83 | bm, cm | bm-dm | audio |
Draw Me Close (Kelly Carpenter) | 63 | Bb | A-Bb | audio |
Emmanuel (Bob McGee) | 98 | C, D | Bb-D | audio |
Enough (Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio) | 58 | F, G | F-G | audio |
Everlasting God (Brenton Brown, Ken Riley) | 7 | Bb | A-Bb | audio |
Forever (Chris Tomlin) | 12 | G | F-G | audio |
Forever Reign (Reuben Morgan, Jason Ingram) | 14 | A, Bb, B, C | A-C | audio |
Friend Of God (Michael Gungor, Israel Houghton) | 51 | Bb, B, C | Bb-C | audio |
From The Inside Out (Joel Houston) | 18 | Bb | A-Bb | audio |
Give Thanks (Henry Smith) | 45 | F, G | F-G | audio |
Give Us Clean Hands (Charlie Hall) | 62 | F | F-F# | audio |
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) (John Wilbur Chapman, Mark Hall, Michael Bleecker) | 54 | Ab, A | Ab-Bb | audio |
Glory To God Forever (Steve Fee, Vicky Beeching) | 25 | Ab, A | G-A | audio |
God Is Able (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan) | 65 | Ab, A | G-A | audio |
God Of This City (Aaron Boyd, Richard Bleakley, Ian Jordan, Andrew McCann, Peter Kernaghan, Peter Comfort) | 78 | Bb | A-Bb | audio |
God Of Wonders (Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong) | 33 | F, G | F-G | audio |
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm, William Marion Runyan) | 53 | C, D | Bb-D | audio |
Hallelujah (Brenton Brown, Brian Doerksen) | 94 | G, Ab, A | Eb-A | audio |
Happy Day (Ben Cantelon, Tim Hughes) | 32 | ((Bb)) | ((Bb)) | audio |
He Is Exalted (Twila Paris) | 73 | Eb, F | Eb-F | audio |
He Knows My Name (Tommy Walker) | 76 | D, Eb, E | D-F | audio |
Here I Am To Worship (Tim Hughes) | 5 | E, F | Eb-F | audio |
Holy Is The Lord (Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio) | 17 | F, G | F-G | audio |
Hosanna (Brooke Fraser) | 23 | E, F | D-F | audio |
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) (Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown) | 19 | F, G | F-G | audio |
How Can I Keep From Singing (Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Matt Redman) | 85 | E, F | Eb-F | audio |
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Stuart Townend) | 28 | E, F, G | D-G | audio |
How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash) | 1 | Ab, A, Bb | G-Bb | audio |
How Great Thou Art (Stuart Wesley Keene Hine) | 26 | A | A-Bb | audio |
How He Loves (John Mark McMillan) | 15 | (A, Bb) | (A-Bb) | audio |
Hungry (Kathryn Scott) | 93 | D | D | audio |
I Am Free (Jon Egan) | 57 | ** | ** | audio |
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever (Martin Smith) | 95 | Eb, F | D-F | audio |
I Give You My Heart (Reuben Morgan) | 39 | F, G | Eb-A | audio |
I Love You Lord (Laurie Klein) | 67 | Eb, E, F, G | Eb-Ab | audio |
I Will Follow (Reuben Morgan, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram) | 49 | E, F | Eb-F | audio |
I Will Rise (Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, Jesse Reeves, Matt Maher) | 66 | G | F-Ab | audio |
In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend, Keith Getty) | 10 | Eb | D-Eb | audio |
Indescribable (Laura Story) | 44 | F, G | Eb-G | audio |
Jesus Messiah (Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash) | 9 | G | F-G | audio |
Jesus Paid It All (Alex Nifong, Elvina M. Hall, John Thomas Grape) | 77 | Bb | A-Bb | audio |
Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy) (Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Matt Gilder, Isaac Watts, George Frederic Handel) | 90 | A, Bb | A-Bb | audio |
Lead Me To The Cross (Brooke Fraser) | 38 | cm, dm | bm-dm | audio |
Lord I Lift Your Name On High (Rick Founds) | 24 | G | F-G | audio |
Lord Reign In Me (Brenton Brown) | 64 | Bb, B | Ab-C | audio |
Love The Lord (Lincoln Brewster) | 82 | F, G | Eb-G | audio |
Majesty (Jack Hayford) | 86 | Ab, A, Bb | G-Bb | audio |
Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall) | 72 | B, Bb | B-Bb | audio |
Mighty To Save (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan) | 2 | G, Ab | F-Ab | audio |
My Savior My God (Aaron Shust, Dorothy Dora Greenwell) | 97 | Bb, C | A-C | audio |
O Praise Him (David Crowder) | 100 | G, Ab, A | F-A | audio |
Offering (Paul Baloche) | 69 | E, F | Eb-G | audio |
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails) (Brian Johnson, Christa Black, Jeremy Riddle) | 91 | (Ab) | (Ab) | audio |
Open The Eyes Of My Heart (Paul Baloche) | 13 | D, Eb, E | D-E | audio |
Our God (Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Jonas Myrin, Jesse Reeves) | 3 | G, Ab | G-Ab | audio |
Our God Saves (Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown) | 61 | D | D | audio |
Revelation Song (Jennie Lee Riddle) | 6 | D | C-D | audio |
Sanctuary (John W. Thompson, Randy Scruggs) | 81 | D, Eb, E | C-F | audio |
Shine Jesus Shine (Graham Kendrick) | 68 | Ab, A | Ab-A | audio |
Shout To The Lord (Darlene Zschech) | 20 | Bb, B | Bb-B | audio |
Sing Sing Sing (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Matt Gilder, Daniel Carson, Travis Nunn) | 46 | F, G | E-Ab** | audio |
Sing To The King (Billy Foote, Charles Silvester Horne) | 37 | Eb, E, F | Eb-G | audio |
Stronger (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan) | 56 | Bb, B, C | Bb-C | audio |
The Heart Of Worship (Matt Redman) | 30 | Eb | C-F | audio |
The Stand (Joel-Houston) | 22 | A | A | audio |
The Wonderful Cross (Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin, J. D. Walt, Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason) | 40 | C, D | C-D | audio |
Today Is The Day (Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche) | 55 | Bb, B | Bb-B | audio |
Trading My Sorrows (Darrell Evans) | 47 | G, Ab, A | F-A | audio |
Victory In Jesus (Eugene M. Bartlett) | 80 | F | Eb-F# | audio |
We Fall Down (Chris Tomlin) | 27 | Eb, E, F | D-F | audio |
Wonderful Merciful Savior (Dawn Rodgers, Eric Wyse) | 92 | Bb, C | Bb-C | audio |
Worthy Is The Lamb (Darlene Zschech) | 79 | A, Bb | A-Bb | audio |
You Are Good (Israel Houghton) | 75 | Eb, E, F | D-F | audio |
You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace) (Marc Imboden, Tammi Rhoton) | 71 | E, F | E-F | audio |
You Are My All In All (Dennis Jernigan) | 36 | F, G | Eb-G | audio |
You Are My King (Billy Foote) | 16 | D, Eb | D-F | audio |
You Never Let Go (Matt Redman}, Beth Redman) | 31 | A, Bb | A-Bb | audio |
You’re Worthy Of My Praise (David Ruis) | 48 | Eb, E, F | Eb-F | audio |
Your Grace Is Enough (Matt Maher) | 11 | E, F | Eb-F | audio |
Your Great Name (Krissy Nordhoff, Michael Neale) | 42 | A, Bb | Ab-Bb | audio |
Your Love Never Fails (Anthony Skinner, Chris McClarney) | 50 | F | Eb-F | audio |
Your Name (Paul Baloche, Glenn Packiam) | 35 | Ab, A, Bb | G-Bb | audio |
**I Am Free in its original form has a range too large for an average singer. LifeWayWorship’s arrangements have altered the melody so that it is attainable by the average singers. In considering the original notation, I have not listed any key as a possibility.
Kenny Lamm, senior consultant for worship and music for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, is a frequent worship conference leader with a strong focus on equipping leaders in North Carolina (USA) and Southeast Asia. His blog, Renewing Worship, features posts that explore ways to renew–impart new life and vigor to–the worship in the local church.