Now that we’ve pinpointed our original key signature, we can identify how far up or down in tone we’ll need to transpose for our new instrument to sound the same as our original concert pitch. The Circle of Fifths provides an at-a-glance look at key signatures based on the number of sharps or flats. First, we’ll identify what key signature our original piece is in and what key signature we need to transpose to. Ok, so we’ve determined that we do, in fact, need to transpose this very important piece of music for one of the reasons above. Find a list of non-transposing and transposing instruments here. In order for that piece to sound the same on a flute and clarinet, we’ll need to transpose each of the notes by the correct interval (the distance between the notes). Remember the line “if it sees a C, it sounds its key.” However, if you play that same pitch of C on your clarinet, that C actually will sound like a B-flat in concert pitch, because the clarinet is a transposing instrument.
A C pitch played on the flute or piano will actually sound like a C because they are concert pitch instruments. Say you have a piece of sheet music written for a flute (a C instrument /concert pitch instrument) and you need to play it on the clarinet (a B-flat instrument / transposition instrument). The basic process of transposition is the same for either use. Other times, we’ll decide to transpose the key of a piece to make it simpler to play or sing. Because of the physical properties of certain instruments, it’s easier to transpose and read sheet music for them in a different key rather than read them in concert pitch (like a piano). Sometimes we’ll need to transpose music so that it can properly be played on different instruments. Any major key can be transposed into any other major key, and the same goes for minor keys. Transposition is simply the process of changing the key of a piece of music. Additionally, just as a budding mathematician studies algebraic laws, it’s important for us musicians to have a firm grasp on the theory behind what creates all those emotive, provoking sounds, and learning how to transpose music will help with just that! However, if you’re playing from a non-digital file (gasp!), it’s great to know the basics of music transposition. Digital sheet music aficionados like yourselves already know how easy it is to transpose your digital files into any key you want with a simple click of your mouse.
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