Music Dials Musician's Blog

How to Transpose Music

musicdials — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:00:51 +0000

OK… as we discussed in our recent posts (basic music theory, guitar power chords, et.al.) it was suggested that we visit the subject matter of… Music Transposition.

To transpose music simply means… to change the pitch of each note without changing the relationships between the notes. Now, relationship between notes is one thing, another topic we’ll touch on is, how it actually changes the ‘feel’ of the original composition. But, first let’s take a look at the basic fundamentals.

So… why Transpose?…

If you as a singer, or if your vocalist’s is struggling with notes that are too high or low, changing the key to put the music in a range that would result in a much better performance, by adjusting for the right key for ones vocal delivery, is one reason to transpose.

Of course, instrumentalists may also find that a piece is easier to play if it is in a different key. Players of both bowed and plucked strings generally find fingerings and tuning to be easier in sharp keys, while woodwind and brass players often find flat keys more comfortable and in tune.

Instrumentalists with transposing instruments will usually need any part they play to be properly transposed before they can play it. Band instruments like: Clarinet, French horn, saxophone, trumpet, and cornet are the most common transposing instruments. Sometimes musical scores must be transposed in order for different instruments to play the same pitch. In order for a clarinet tuned to B flat to accompany a piano tuned to C natural, one of their scores must be transposed.

If you see C in the original score, then perform D with exactly the same relationship between notes. Sometimes when you transpose on sight, it helps to develop muscle memory of the proper notes in each key. If the song’s original key is C and you need to transpose it to D in order to accommodate guitarists, then consider the D note as your new tonic. Everything else is based around D as your new starting and stopping point.

In general, a composers may simply just want to transpose the key of a song for dramatic effect or variety. Now, this is where variety is interesting, because it beckons our mention above of how transposing a musical piece actually changes its ‘original’ feel.

You see, when a composition was written, it incorporated the owners “frequency” (hertz) of the song, which was an integral part of the original composition sound. When you move a pitch (transpose) of someone’s original work, you’re actually creating a different feel through frequency changes, and in some cases the final transposed piece may not contain the original ‘intent’ of intensity prescribed by its originator. Especially, if the movements (score) are changed from Major to Minor model keys (vice-vrs.)… Keep these considerations in mind with your transposition.

Now, How Might One Avoid Transposition?…

In some situations, you can avoid transposition, or at least avoid doing the work yourself. Some stringed instruments – guitar for example – can use a capo to play in higher keys. A good electronic keyboard will transpose for you. If your music is already stored as a computer file, there are programs that will transpose it for you and display and print it in the new key.

However, if you only have the music on paper, it may be easier to transpose it yourself than to enter it into a music program to have it transposed. So if none of these situations apply to you, it’s time to learn to transpose.

Note: If you play a chordal instrument (guitar, for example), you may not need to write down the transposed music. There are instructions below for transposing just the names of the chords.

Here are the most common situations that may require you to change the key of a piece of music:

How to Transpose Music?…

There are four steps to transposition:
1. Choose your transposition.
2. Use the correct key signature.
3. Move all the notes the correct interval.
4. Take care with your accidental(s).

Step 1: Choose Your Transposition. In many ways, this is the most important step, and the least straightforward. The transposition you choose will depend on why you are transposing.

If you already know what transposition you need, you can go to step two. Are you rewriting the music for a transposing instrument? Are you looking for a key that is in the range of your vocalist? Are you looking for a key that is more playable on your instrument?

Step 2: Write the New Key Signature

If you have chosen the transposition because you want a particular key, then you should already know what key signature to use. (If you don’t, see Key Signature.) If you have chosen the transposition because you wanted a particular interval (say, a whole step lower or a perfect fifth higher), then the key changes by the same interval. For example, if you want to transpose a piece in D major up one whole step, the key also moves up one whole step, to E major. Transposing a piece in B minor down a major third will move the key signature down a major third to G minor. For more information on and practice identifying intervals, see Interval. For further information on how moving music up or down changes the key signature, see The Circle of Fifths.

I’ve essentially presented this information as a primarily conduit… as much has already been written about music transposition… and most have been put in complete forms where it best that I simply pass it on to you… as such,

Steps 3 & 4 can further be reviewed and explored at (and credit given to) Connexions, which is an outstanding environment for collaboratively developing, freely sharing, and rapidly publishing scholarly content on the Web.

Transposing music is not the most difficult element of basic music theory, but it does require a mastery of the various key signatures and modes to be done correctly. However, using reference tools, such as the Music Dial in order to assist in music transposition just might be your easiest way of applying these transposition requirements.

Have a Great Musical Day!
Ron Greene
Music Dials

Guitar Power Chords

musicdials — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:01:06 +0000

“Guitar Power Chords” relating to the Music Dials…

Hi -

Rhythm and chords have always been the popular foundation for all types of music. Power chords are essentially, just 2 (many times 3) of the strongest tonal notes in the key of the song, which creates powerful sounding chords all to themselves.

In this case, by playing these notes as viewed on the Music “Power Chord” Dial, you will immediately find yourself laying down some substantial rock and blues sounds, indeed. Generally, they are played on the lower registered (bass) strings, where they have the most ‘punch’ to them.

“Power chords are sometimes notated with a numeric ‘5′ following its root note, as in C5 (C power chord), in which case it specifically refers to playing the root and fifth of the chord”… as quoted and referenced from the description of Power Chords at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_chord

Further it states, “Although the use of the term power chord has, to some extent, spilled over into the vocabulary of other instrumentalists, namely keyboards and synthesizer players, it remains essentially a (fundamental) part of the rock guitar culture and is most strongly associated with the over-driven electric guitar styles of hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock, and similar genres.”

And, if you choose to stick with just the ‘2′ notes for your power chords, you’ll find that they’ll work both for major and minor keys. So… the simplest of chords can be just, if not more, powerful than full chordal structures with your instrument playing.

A ’sustained’ power chord sound is created by aggressively strumming a chord with the right hand (if right handed) while holding the power chord firmly with the left hand as the chord continues to sound strongly after being strummed. A ‘dampened’ power chord sound is created by lightly resting the right hand on the strings, close to the string(s) bridge, while strumming a chord. A ‘deadened’ sound is created by strumming a power chord and then placing the side of your right hand on all the strings to abruptly stop any continued sound.

A ’slide’ sound is created by positioning the power chord one or two frets lower on the guitar fretboard, strumming the chord aggressively and then sliding it up to the correct fret position while the power chord is still sounding strongly.

Most players just want to sound good. Just like the dictionary is to the writer, the Music Dial provides the tools for immediate reference to all the good and cool sounding chords and scales in a handy movable dial. You may consider including the Power Chord(s) Dial as a permanent fixture in your music library, as a lifetime music reference guide and your primary music resource assistant for power chords, or for any other musical instrument playing experience.

I’ve been asked to address the way you would Transpose music and Pentatonic Scales, and I hope to address both soon in our Music Dial, Musician’s Blog… until next time…

Have a great musical Power On day !
Ron Greene

Play by Ear

musicdials — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:26:39 +0000

Today, we’ll learn how to play music by ear intrinsically.

Hi, it’s Ron Greene here,

In my last blog post we discussed how music theory relates to my Music Dials, and how you might discover some insightful ways to play better on your musical instrument. Also, I provided you with a blurb about my development experiences with the Music Dial.

Within this posting I’d love to discuss some thoughts with you, regarding your ability and feelings about… playing music by ear, and how it relates to the Music Dials.

Here’s my take on playing music by ear or “play by ear” if you will. It might reference a typical means of playing music without wanting or needing to read notes on a music staff or on a tablature. The ability to play by ear, no doubt, means a lot of different things to a lot of people. To me it seems that on many occasions, playing music by ear would be a practical thing to learn and do.

Let’s say you hear a song on the radio that you’d like to learn immediately, and you don’t want to get references from the song sheets or tablatures. You would just like to start playing the song right away… play it by ear. Or, you might be a songwriter that’s just looking to put together an interested chord and melody structure, for a song you have in mind. Even in a living room jam situation with other musicians, there are lots of examples where playing by ear would be a helpful skill.

Now, in all of the instances above I would certainly like to relay the message that you might discover the Music Dials to be an interesting and supportive reference tool for your musician’s library.

When playing by ear, a musician doesn’t necessarily have “all” of the ‘key’ chords and scale structures committed to memory. Music Dials provide a concise, effective representation of the best sounding chords in each key, along with the best sounding notes in each key. As a movable device, one simply turns the dial to the key you hear for that song, and immediately reference the chords and scales you require.

So… it doesn’t matter if you’re coming from no knowledge of music theory or a seasoned player, the ability to reference different notes for chordal and/or melodic playing can be noted at-a-glance on the Music Dials.

So… if you’re not interested in spending a lot of time and energy researching and studying… a precise condensed version of chord and scale theory is presented in a hand-held, movable at a glance dial, representing the best sounding chords and scales for any song in any key: the Music Dial!

If you have any further suggestions as to how “Playing by Ear” relates to music in general (and not necessarily relating to the Music Dial), please, I’m all ‘ears’… and I’m very interested in your take on the related subject of… music and how to play it by ear.

If it’s ok with you, let’s talk about Guitar Power Chords in the next blog.

Have a great musical day!
Ron Greene

Here’s the video Introducing the Music Dials for your reference.

Basic Music Theory

musicdials — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:22:40 +0000

Hey fellow musicians… Ron Greene here,

There are a lot of decent basic music theory books, tapes etc. on the market these days, and many of them provide good technical content. However, most of the information in them seems to lack specific details that otherwise, really never get you to the point of playing your instrument.

For example, music theory publications do a good job of explaining Key Signatures and the history of music, yet, these subjects might not interest you as much as getting your instrument out and actually getting down to the matter at hand… playing it!

I’ve been playing musical instruments since 1963. Around 1987 I discovered something very interesting… a large ‘gap’ in music theory lessons and instructional programs. I could not locate any products on the market that would support my ability to grow with my instruments in an easy format.

So… what did I do?… I spent the late 80’s mind-storming ways to come up with an idea that would assist existing and beginning musicians with the ability to quickly and easily expand on ones musical skills, while making music theory fun at the same time.

Prototype after prototype emerged. For three years straight my basement looked like something from Frankenstein meets Thomas Edison. Always looking for better ways to understand and apply musical insights. Then, in 1991 I finally hit on the idea of the Music Dials. After years of experimentation the inspirational flash I was searching for streaked across my brain in an instant. All of my prototypes came together in that moment. The thought of having “all” references to music theory… like: chord structures, melodic notes, scales, all-in-one hand held device (dial) was born! Hence the Music Dial.

Recently, an associate of mine recorded me talking about how the Music Dial relates (among other musical techniques) to basic music theory. If your interested, give it a listen… it’s only 4 minutes in length.

Listen to the mp3 music theory interview here
What I’ve tried to deliver in the development and construction of the Music Dials, is the ability to provide you with a means to show you the forms, (scale and chord positions) on your fret-board for string instruments – and keyboard locations for piano players, visually, right in front of you.

You’ll immediately notice a difference in how you learn music theory using the Music Dials. It’s what I call “implied” or “applied” music theory. Meaning, while you play your instrument you are consciously and sub- consciously learning insightful basic music theory information, naturally. And indeed, your having the enjoyment of playing your instrument at the same time.

All songs are played in a key. Most songs for most styles can be played using only 8 chords for accompaniment and 6 scales for melodies or solos in each key. My Music Dials instantly show you the chords & scales you need in each key. The 8 chords in each key you should and will know…

The 6 common chords come from the major scale notes in each key and are called scale tone chords (I = do, IIm = re, IIIm = mi, IV = fa, V = so, VIm = la).
The 2 optional chords (bIII, bVII), commonly used for rock & blues, come from the flatted third and flatted seventh (notes of the major scale and can also be used to play songs in each key.)

Except for jazz, most songs use only major, minor and seventh chords and these are the basic chords you should learn in each key. Experiment with and have fun playing, creating or improvising great sounding chord progressions in each key.

There are four chord types: major, minor, augmented, diminished. There are many extensions of these chord types including: suspended, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords. Chord formulas define which major scale notes are contained in the chord (1 = do, 2 = re,3 = mi, 4 = fa, 5 = so, 6 = la, 7 = ti). Below are the formulas for the 4 chord types and their extensions:

The specific scale you use to play solo in each key depends on the type of sound you want to create. Here are the 6 most commonly used scales including 2 for “melodic” sounding solos, 2 for “blues” sounding solos and 2 for various other sounding solos.

Scale formulas define which major scale notes are contained in the scale (1 = do, 2 = re, 3 = mi, 4 = fa, 5 = so, 6 = la, 7 = ti).

The Music Dial instantly shows the formulas for the 6 scales, making music theory easy to learn as a natural relationship to your musical instrument playing.

I hope this section has shed some light on music theory and how the Music Dials could assist with your resolve to play better, whether you are a guitar player, bass guitar player, Keyboard player, mandolin or banjo player, or any instrument for that matter (like horns, etc.).

I look forward to providing more tips on playing better musically with your instrument(s) in all of our following blog postings. Let’s venture into how “Playing by Ear” relates to music and the Music Dials on the next posting.

Have a great musical day!
Ron Greene

Oh… here’s an “intro to the Music Dials” video for your reference.