Plagal Cadence Sample One
Plagal Cadence Sample Two
Plagal Cadence Sample Three
I IV I
I IV I
I IV I
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Topic: Transposition
Goal: Ability to transpose from one key to another key without the aid of sheet music Introduction:
When I play the piano to accompany a solo singer or a church congregation, I use a lot of transposition. One of the main reasons is that everyone has a different vocal range. Not everyone is born to be a soprano nor a tenor. Sometimes it is necessary to transpose the song to a lower/higher range to accommodate a singer. Modulation, transposition, and improvisation are very much related. If you can modulate and transpose a song easily, this will create excitement and give variety to a basic song. You may transpose a song from one key to another key when there is a long measures to create variation.
There are basically two common methods used to transpose a song. First, by intervals, secondly, by the scale.
Intervals and Transposition
Let say a song is in the key of C major and we want to transpose it to D major. You ask, what is the interval between C and D (interval is the distance between two notes)? The answer is a 2nd or a whole step.
We need to go up a whole step in order to transpose from C to D. Therefore, every note in the original song will need to move up a 2nd/a whole note to be in the correct position. The caveat is that you need to pay attention to accidentals (sharps and flats). We know that D major has two sharps and there are F# and C#. You will need to make sure to play sharp whenever you come across the two notes after you have transposed them. Also, if the original key (C major) has some notes that are flats or sharps, you need to make sure to either lower a half step or raise a half step after you have transposed to the new key. For instance, if the original note is E# in C major; after you transpose it to D major, the note is now F## (which is also G). This technique sounds very simple but takes a lot of practice.
Intervals can also be done by referring to the grand staff. We know that the notes are written on 5 lines.
and 4 spaces.
88 to the next space you are also going up a 3rd. If you want to go up a 5th (let's say
transpose from E major to B major, we are going up a 5th) from the first line, you will end up on the third line. Take a good look at the grand staff and see if you can figure out on your own how to go up a 2nd, a 3rd, a 4th, a 5th, a 6th, and a 7th from a space note, and then from a line note. Notice if you start with line note, you will always end up in a line note if you are going up or down in odd number (3rd, 5th, 7th). Same thing happens to space notes, if you go up or down an odd number you will always end up with a space note (up or down a 3rd, a 5th, or 7th). However, if you are going up or down from a line note in even number (2nd, 4th, 6th), you will end up with a space note and vice versa. It is easier to say than do. Here are the exercises. Make sure to work it out.
Exercises provided.
Tips: Work on the exercise on manuscript paper first, and then transpose it directly onto the piano without having to write it down. The goal is for you to be able to transpose directly from the original sheet music onto the piano without the extra step of transposing on manuscript paper.
Transposition by scales
This second method takes more effort but is equally as effective once you understand the principle. You will need to master most of the major scales in order to use this method effectively. The way to do this is by figuring out the note of each scale and its
corresponding number. The C major scale:
c d e f g a b c (Every note on C major scale) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 (Number)
Tip: You see, every note has a number in this method.
If we are going to transpose C major to D major, we will need to know the numbers of the D major scale note.
D major scale D E F# G A B C# D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
To transpose from C major to D major, you simply match the number of old key with the correct note on the new key. E on C major is F# on D major (they both have number 3). I use this method a lot when I am playing for church congregation. I normally write down the number on the sheet music. When I play the piano for the congregation, I can
89 transpose to any key I want by just looking at the number instead of the notes. The only advice: know your scales. Songs that are written in sulfege system (do-re-mi) come in handy using this method.
Exercise: Use the same exercise you printed from section and write down the numbers that correspond to the notes then transpose to the key required. You may need to write down the numbers of the new key in order to familiarize yourself.