Kate,

The "key of c" means you're using, mostly, notes from the c scale. Yes, as Jean says, ending your melody on C is often the case with songs in the key of c, but not exclusively.

First, learn what a major scale is:

Do re mi fa sol la ti do. the "eee" sounds, mi and ti, are a half step from the next note. All the rest are a whole step apart. A half step is like one fret to the next, a whole step skips a fret. Or on the piano, a half step is one piano key to the next (not meaning the same as "key of c" though, just the white or black keys).

Sing a lot of do re mi scales. Play a C note on the guitar then sing the scale, then you're singing in the key of c.

That's a good starting place to understand key and scale, when you've done that a bit post back here and tell us what you think about it and we'll continue on.

All the Best,
Mike

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music