To Barry Finn:

I appreciate what you are saying and I agree that there are circumstances where the range of the song is just within that of your voice, so the key you sing in on such occasions is critical. I have had the same experience you describe of starting too high on such a song.

However I remain a little sceptical in the particular case mentioned for the reason I gave originally. I would much rather people just came out and said from the outset that they would prefer others not to accompany them instead of resorting to such subterfuges.

To Jack Campin:

As it happens, I don't have a 415 recorder and given the price they are, even second hand, I doubt I will get one now. I don't think I would play it enough to justify the expenditure to myself let alone to a certain other in the house. It would be a neat way to subvert the intention behind the choice of key, though :-) Come to think of it, someone with a B/C box should be able to accompany OK and subvert the choice of key. Just play up and down the B row getting the E# (as Fnat) from the C row.