Questions tagged [transposition]

The shifting of a melody, a harmonic progression or an entire musical piece to another key, while maintaining the same tone structure, i.e. the same succession of whole tones and semitones and remaining melodic intervals.

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5 votes
3 answers
496 views

How to avoid double sharps in LilyPond

I have this code: \new StaffGroup << \override StaffGroup.SystemStartBracket.stencil = ##f \new ...
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4 votes
2 answers
290 views

Transposing Piano Accompaniment for Vocalist - When to Change Clefs

I have been transposing some voice + piano accompaniment music originally written for a mezzo-soprano or alto into a key for a tenor down (usually by a third or a fourth) and have found the resulting ...
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8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why is french horn not written a 5th above the rest of the orchestra when it is supposed to be? [duplicate]

Here the orchestra plays in D but the french horn is written in C major when it should be written in A major. There are accidentals but I dont understan why the correct key signature is not used?
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2 votes
1 answer
36 views

Lilypond: transpose a sequence to modes with different intervallic structure

I am looking for a Lilypond function to transpose sequences of notes between modes that have different intervallic structure (e. g. from major to harmonic minor). My assumption is that the modes have ...
1 vote
3 answers
80 views

Is using transpose function on a keyboard a bad idea? [duplicate]

I have a digital keyboard that has a transpose function which can shift the pitch up or down by the number of semi-tones I want. I hear some say that most good keyboardists frown up using the ...
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5 votes
4 answers
571 views

Why don't all transposing instruments have transposing clefs?

Is there a reason for which some transposing instruments (say, horns in F, bass clarinets etc.) don't have transposing clefs? For some instruments it's not odd to have them, e.g. tenor voice always ...
2 votes
1 answer
59 views

Writing music for tenor sax from piano [duplicate]

I have a famous song written for piano that I want to transpose for tenor sax. Is that the correct term? It will be put on a piece of art as a gift so its very important I do this correctly. I am very ...
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5 votes
2 answers
456 views

Transposing from 3 sharps to 4 flats

I am trying to change a song that is in 3 sharps to 4 flats (as I am better in flats). The original piece in 3 sharps has several extra flats, sharps, and naturals and, of course, I believe I need to ...
6 votes
2 answers
356 views

Transposition: written pitch vs sounding pitch

I have a small doubt in melody writing of grade 8 standard. The given question is: Write a 12 bar melody for Clarinet in Bb using the notes of D Mixolydian Mode in written pitch rather than sounding ...
-1 votes
3 answers
202 views

Solo piano: Why not compose everything in or including the keys C major and A minor? [duplicate]

This is a follow-up question to What's the point of keys other than C and Am? After going through that question, I wrote down the key general facts: The C major and A minor keys have the simplest ...
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0 votes
2 answers
86 views

What is a half step down from a song in Gbm on piano?

When a singer asks to tune a song a half step down from Gbm would that be Fminor or Gb?
-1 votes
1 answer
443 views

How to transpose from guitar scores to clarinet?

Guitar in standard tuning B♭ clarinet I have the chords for a song in guitar. I need to join the guitar on clarinet, but I cannot find the partiture to play. How can I join the guitar (rhythmic ...
5 votes
7 answers
3k views

Is it OK to use the transpose function of a piano like guitar players use a capo?

The title says it all, I guess. I'm in the process of learning scales and chords in the different signatures. I find some patterns/licks to be easier in, for example, D minor, so when playing a song ...
26 votes
3 answers
2k views

C Trumpet in Beethoven's 5th symphony

For a school assignment, I am playing part of Beethoven's 5th Symphony on keyboards. While analyzing the piece, I'm confused by the trumpet part. In the score I am using, it is written as 'Trombe in C'...
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4 votes
4 answers
161 views

Efficient ways to octave down notes that exceed range?

Often, I'll come across music with notes that exceed my range. Typically, I will just octave the phrase down, and that usually sounds fine. Recently, I've come across a run, in which if I were to ...
4 votes
5 answers
767 views

C Major with F# transpose to D major

I have C major with F# in it. If I want to transpose it to D major, do I just raise F# two steps up? So G#? I am a little confused about transposing with accidentals involved.... Should I follow the ...
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2 votes
2 answers
249 views

How can I use Lilypond to produce transposed notation?

Lilypond has a \transpose command: the following notation \transpose c d { \relative c' { c4 d e f g } } produces I was wondering if I can use this command somehow to produce transposed notation, i....
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3 votes
1 answer
298 views

What's the interval that I need to transpose from C minor to E minor?

Would this be a minor third of a major third? Sorry if this is a simple question, it's been a while since I studied music theory. For an example, suppose there was an Fmaj chord within the C minor ...
0 votes
1 answer
366 views

what is the difference between a french horn in F and a french horn in E flat (or other keys)?

I know that a french horn in F means, that instead of playing a C it plays an F, and the same with E flat. But why are there french horns in F AND french horns in E flat? Wouldn't the only difference ...
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5 votes
2 answers
373 views

Can the Eb alto clarinet and the Eb soprano clarinet be substituted?

I am putting together a band to play the piece Variations on a Korean Folk Song by John Barnes Chance. I Was wondering if I could substitute both clarinets parts with a Alto sax seeing as they are ...
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Treble Clef with optional 8 va bassa?

What is a treble clef with 8 in parentheses used for? My software (MuseScore 3.x) ignores it (as if it were a treble without any 8). What is the point of this clef? Is it for transposing instruments? ...
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2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Changing key of music in a PDF format

I would like to change the key of some pieces (in PDF format) to fit into my recorder range. Could someone suggest an easy way to do that?
3 votes
3 answers
444 views

When transposing songs from major key to minor key, should it be natural minor or harmonic minor?

I noticed that people can transpose songs from major key to minor key vice versa, but I'm wondering that should a major key be transposed to natural minor or harmonic minor? I'm confused
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

Transposing trombones and tubas from bass clef to treble clef

I'm a new boy at transposition school(!). (I play piano so am familiar with which note is which in the two clefs.) I play clarinets, Bb and A. We only use treble clef, so it's a simply process of ...
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1 vote
2 answers
206 views

How do I reasonably deal with a clef change?

I am currently trying to transpose some notes from singing to the cello. The Cello uses the bass clef, and because it is one of the many instruments which also uses concert pitch as stated in this ...
12 votes
4 answers
1k views

In what key signature is singing written in, and how do I adapt for alto saxophone?

Note: I am not that good in general music theory but I will try to get my point across as best as I can. I am currently in charge of writing/transposing the scores of a little hobby band. I got the ...
6 votes
1 answer
758 views

Can you explain the transposing convention in this Jean Sibelius's score?

I am looking at a 1954 edition of Jean Sibelius's orchestral score for Tapiola. It has the Concert Pitch instruments (Flutes, Violins etc) in two sharps. He then has various other key signatures which ...
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2 votes
1 answer
724 views

Where is the transpose (fine tune) button in Live 11?

I would like to change the the pitch in cts not just st (semitones). This question sounds a bit stupid. The button used to be there, because I have successfully used it. Below there is a screenshot of ...
2 votes
2 answers
84 views

Are there hidden technical difficulties for vocalists when they transpose?

I am not a vocalist, but an instrumentalist. When I want to transpose something up or down a half step, this takes considerable work: different hand/chord shapes on the piano, completely different ...
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3 votes
1 answer
127 views

Are Rubank Method books for transposing instruments written in concert pitch?

I want to learn to play written music for the e-flat alto, and b-flat tenor saxophones. I have seen many recommendations for using the Rubank Method books to practice. I understand transposing ...
2 votes
0 answers
52 views

If a certain transposing instrument plays a Bb, but it sounds like a C, why not just call it a C? [duplicate]

Why call it a Bb, if it sounds like a C? Why not just write it as a C?
0 votes
4 answers
327 views

What are the exact steps of transposing a note?

There are some related answers (like "What is the formal definition of 'transpose'?", and "What is the idea of "transposing by perfect unison"?"), but they didn't answer ...
4 votes
1 answer
352 views

Keys in Real Book vs. Real Vocal Book

I like seeing the lyrics to jazz standards, but I would also like to practice standards in their original/standard keys. How many tunes in the Real Vocal Book "High Voice" (which has the ...
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4 votes
2 answers
751 views

When playing a bass part on piano do you play it in the right octave or one octave up as written?

I am learning to play a song on the piano which shows the guitar chords, bass guitar notation as well as the piano notation. As usual, the bass guitar part is written one octave higher than what the ...
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1 vote
1 answer
115 views

Singing and transposing in the same key

Hey guys I have a question. If I'm singing a song and it was too high for me by a few semi tones and I decided to sing it lower, would I have to also transpose the background music in order for it to ...
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2 votes
2 answers
651 views

Transposing key signatures - how to do so quickly?

I've been attempting to pick up my music theory after a 1 month hiatus, and I've stumbled across transposing key signatures - is there a quick method of figuring out the new key signature? Because ...
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6 votes
9 answers
1k views

Note-naming when transposing by semitone

I'm new in music theory and also a junior web developer. I created a simple script that converts letter notes by semitone. I'm confused on how to transpose notes. My current understanding is when you ...
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2 votes
2 answers
7k views

How can I transpose an audio track in Logic Pro X without having the duration changed?

I'm recording vocal audio tracks, but I don't reach some pitches (like a C2) so i tried singing the parts one octave higher and using the transposition feature in the inspector (Shortcut: "i"...
4 votes
6 answers
1k views

is it possible to read and play a piece that's written in Gflat (6 flats) by substituting those for one sharp, thus in key G?

I play Renaissance tenor recorder. I usually stick to Renaissance music, but like Rutter's "What Sweeter Music", that is in 6 flats! Why write in 6 flats when 1 sharp would do? Can I play ...
1 vote
3 answers
280 views

Playing clarinet from saxophone music

I am starting to study the clarinet and have been given some sax music. As both instruments are in B-flat, if I use the clarinet to play the sax music: what must I be aware of? are there octaves ...
1 vote
2 answers
73 views

Question about music transposition

I'm really new to music theory and I'm trying to figure this out. I need to transpose a score in B major to the key Bb major. When I click transpose, should it be up, or down, and what interval should ...
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1 vote
2 answers
183 views

Understanding How the Guitar Capo Changes Chords

I recently found a song transcribed where the user plays all the chords on with a capo on the second fret this would move up the open string chords to the following: EADGBe=F#BEAC#F# He then ...
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5 votes
3 answers
763 views

Key signatures in Dvorak 9th symphony

I'm learning about transposing instruments, and now I'm looking at Dvorak's 9th symphony. In the second movement (Largo) I don't understand the key signature of the clarinet in A. The first movement ...
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

How to change octaves on Yamaha E363

I have read the documentation but it doesn't explain how to transpose or change the octave setting or else it is not implementing my changes. Function > Transpose > Adjust -/+ keys but they LED ...
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2 votes
3 answers
380 views

Common for vocal octaves to be not exact with written sheet music?

I have observed that some songs are sung in lower octaves than what's written on the official sheet music, I only recall noticing this for male singers who are bass or baritones, not tenors, not that ...
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0 votes
2 answers
155 views

Which symbol should I use to indicate "transpose"?

I'm making an online chord database, and I want symbols instead of words to label everything, so it can be used by non English speakers. E.g. instead of "Home" I have a picture of a house. I ...
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9 votes
3 answers
6k views

Why is guitar music written one octave higher?

I was always a guitar player and so I never really cared about the difference, but since starting piano it is a bit annoying writing the guitar parts since I always have to transpose by an octave. Is ...
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0 votes
3 answers
337 views

Will a song of F-major sound higher than C-major if they are following the same harmonic progression?

When trying to write songs in F-major, I realize that by using inversions I can achieve a range that is manageable for instruments and voices to play. Yet, I notice that more often than not, my ...
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3 votes
1 answer
424 views

How to tell in which key to transpose a song

My vocal range is D3-D5. I have found that most of the songs I sing will be very comfortable for me if I change their pitch to match the D key. Yet there are others that do not fall into that ...
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6 votes
2 answers
588 views

How do I transpose an orchestral piece if it will push some of the instruments out of their range?

Chord inversions seem to be the obvious choice, but sometimes it changes the overall harmony or disturbs the voice leading. Am I stuck with that key of whatever the orchestral piece is originally ...
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