Transposition

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Definition

Transposition is the shifting of musical notation by a certain specific interval.

Contents

1 Definition
2 Use of transposition
3 Example of transposition
4 Notes
5 See also

Use of transposition

Transposition may be used in order for a certain musical instrument to play the correct tones, or to change the key of a composition, song, or part of any music.

Commonly occurring reasons to transpose music are:

to correctly write the staff or part for a transposing musical instrument^[1]
to fit the music to the ambitus (range) of a particular instrument
to fit the music to the range of a particular singer or voice
to change the key of a (part of a) piece of music

Example of transposition

The example below gives a melody in c then transposed for different transposing instruments.

Please note that, when performed, all these different notations give the exact same pitches!

In C

$\version "2.12.2" \relative c { </p> <pre><< \new Staff \with { } { \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \clef bass \key c \minor c'4.^"score in C"( b8) c16( bes as8) g'8 d es16( c as8) d( fis8) g4 \grace {des16(} c4) s4 } \addlyrics { "Cm" "A♭" "G7" " " "Ab" "D7♭5" "G7" "Cm" } </pre> <pre>>> </pre> <p>}$

Soprano saxophone in B♭

$\version "2.12.2" \transpose c d { </p><p>\relative c { </p> <pre><< \new Staff \with { } { \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \clef treble \key c \minor c'4.^"soprano saxophone in B♭"( b8) c16( bes as8) g'8 d es16( c as8) d( fis8) g4 \grace {des16(} c4) s4 } \addlyrics { "Dm" "B♭" "A7" " " "Bb" "E7♭5" "A7" "Dm" } </pre> <pre>>> </pre> <p>}}$

Alto saxophone in E♭

$\version "2.12.2" \transpose c a { </p><p>\relative c { </p> <pre><< \new Staff \with { } { \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \clef treble \key c \minor c'4.^"alto saxophone in E♭"( b8) c16( bes as8) g'8 d es16( c as8) d( fis8) g4 \grace {des16(} c4) s4 } \addlyrics { "Am" "F" "E7" " " "F" "B7♭5" "E7" "Am" } </pre> <pre>>> </pre> <p>}}$

Tenor Saxophone in B♭

$\version "2.12.2" \transpose c d' { </p><p>\relative c { </p> <pre><< \new Staff \with { } { \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \clef treble \key c \minor c'4.^"tenor saxophone in B♭"( b8) c16( bes as8) g'8 d es16( c as8) d( fis8) g4 \grace {des16(} c4) s4 } \addlyrics { "Dm" "B♭" "A7" " " "Bb" "E7♭5" "A7" "Dm" } </pre> <pre>>> </pre> <p>}}$

Barytone saxophone in E♭

$\version "2.12.2" \transpose c a' { </p><p>\relative c { </p> <pre><< \new Staff \with { } { \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \clef treble \key c \minor c'4.^"barytone saxophone in E♭"( b8) c16( bes as8) g'8 d es16( c as8) d( fis8) g4 \grace {des16(} c4) s4 } \addlyrics { "Am" "F" "E7" " " "F" "B7♭5" "E7" "Am" } </pre> <pre>>> </pre> <p>}}$

A special and unique peculiarity occurs with tranposing for a barytone saxophone: the noteheads happen to be on exactly the same positions on the staff when written in either clef, sounding in f-clef or transposed in g-clef the positions are identical and only the alterations differ.

Notes

↑ Transposing instruments on Wikipedia

See also

Outline of basic music theory

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Categories: Theory of music | Lilypond

Facts about TranspositionRDF feed

Includes	Interval +
Needs	Notation +
Usage	Musical instrument +, Ambitus +, and Voice +

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