Hi there,
Some songs played in a key are at high tone and is sometime difficult to sing along with the tone, I heard that songs can be played in different key than a song in that original key, some online softwares help me to do that job, but how to do it manually by our mind??
For example if a song is in the key of G how to play it in the Key of C
Hey spcharles24,
Great question. Changing key can be an important tool for singers. Vocal cords and singing range will vary from person to person, so being able to raise or lower a key can be very helpful. Also, changing a key will sometimes alter the mood of a song, which can be a fun and expressive technique.
Changing the key on guitar can be a bit easier than on other instruments. Have you learned power chords or barre chords yet? Sometimes "transposing" a song can be as simple as moving the whole song up or down a couple frets. If you know a song in G (3rd fret) you can transpose it to A by moving everything to the 5th fret. Or to C by moving to the 8th fret.
Changing keys can be a bit difficult at times. Especially singing! There's no problem with moving the song up or down one fret at a time and making sure you are singing the correct melody as you go. It's all about the process!
Great question, and good luck with your transpositions!
Mitch Wilson
GT Admin
Originally Posted by: spcharles24I heard that songs can be played in different key than a song in that original key, some online softwares help me to do that job, but how to do it manually by our mind??[/quote]
Anders explains transposing in this tutorial. He uses a capo in the example, but also covers the general concept.
[quote=spcharles24]For example if a song is in the key of G how to play it in the Key of C
You have to know the musical interval distance between the notes.
From G to C is a 4th (or 5 half-steps: g-g#-a-a#-b-c).
So you move every chord up (or every chord down) that exact musical interval distance. This is where the concept of chord progressions becomes extremely valuable.
Key of G example: G(I) - Emin(vi) - C(IV) - D(V)[br][br]
Transpose the progression to C:
G up a 4th is C
E up a 4th is A
C up a 4th is F
D up a 4th is G
Key of C: C(I) - Amin(vi) - F(IV) - G(V)
Hope that helps!
Hi Mr. Mitch Wilson,
Thank you for the reply to my question,
Yes, I've learnt all power & barre chords both rooted on 5th and 6th strings. It's funny and enjoyable to play power and barre chords in guitar as it is my favourite.
Ok, I got ur words, So simply transpose means lowering or increasing the note, is it??
Let's say,
if a song in the key of G has an intro of
C/D/C/D
Em/D/C/D
Verse Em/Bm/Em/Bm
Em/ Bm / C / Bm
If we tranpose it a note higher to the key of A
Intro : D / E/ D /E
Fm / E / D / E
Verse : Fm/ Cm/ Fm / Cm
Fm/ Cm/ D/ Cm/
Is it correct??
- Charles
Hi! Mr. Christopher Schlegel,
Thank you for ur explanation, Now I got it clearly, well explained
- charles
Originally Posted by: spcharles24
So simply transpose means lowering or increasing the note, is it??
[/quote]By a very specific musical interval distance.
[quote=spcharles24]
if a song in the key of G has an intro of
C/D/C/D
Em/D/C/D
Verse Em/Bm/Em/Bm
Em/ Bm / C / Bm
If we tranpose it a note higher to the key of A
Intro : D / E/ D /E
Fm / E / D / E
Verse : Fm/ Cm/ Fm / Cm
Fm/ Cm/ D/ Cm/
Is it correct??
Almost. :) The interval from G to A is a whole step. So every chord has to move up a whole step.
[br]Transposing C/D up a whole step is D/E.
But transposing Em up a whole step is F#m. And Bm up a whole step is C#m.
So, you'd get.
Intro : D / E/ D /E
F#m / E / D / E
Verse : F#m/ C#m/ F#m / C#m
F#m/ C#m/ D/ C#m/
Hope that helps!
Oh! Right !,
I forgot the half step and whole step formula,
So when we transpose we should consider the half step and whole step.
Ok then to transpose from the key B to F
According to Major scale formula
W W h W W W h
[br]B-C,One whole step = C#
C#m- D, one whole step = D#
D#- E, one half step = E
E- F, one half step = F
Therefore, transposing a song from the key B to F is 6 half steps
For instance, if a song in the key of B an has an intro as follows:
B/ E/B/ E
A#m / E / B /E
Verse:
F#/ G#m/ F# / G#m
E / G#m / E / G#m
After transposing to F (by 6 half steps)
Intro:
F/ A#m/ F/A#m
E /A#m/ F / A#m
Verse :
C/ D/C/D
A#m/ D/ A#m/ D
I just created the song in both B and F please examine the intro and verse by appling all the music theory in both keys and let me know if I have made any mistake.
Thank u very much for ur supports
-charles
Major stays major and minor stays minor, you switch from major to minor when transposing.
Tip, learn the circle of fifths out of your head
( major outside and minor inside and it's easy, there is a system to it if you study it closely) and you won't have any problems any more with transposing.
Herman
Originally Posted by: Philip Charles
For instance, if a song in the key of B an has an intro as follows:
B/ E/B/ E
A#m / E / B /E
Verse:
F#/ G#m/ F# / G#m
E / G#m / E / G#m
After transposing to F (by 6 half steps)
Intro:
F/ A#m/ F/A#m
E /A#m/ F / A#m
Verse :
C/ D/C/D
A#m/ D/ A#m/ D
Good job on the musical alphabet letters! As Herman mentioned any major chord stays major, minor chords stay minor.
So this:
Intro
B/ E/B/ E
A#m / E / B /E
Shoud be this:
Intro:
F/ A#/ F/A#
Em /A#/ F / A#
And this:
Verse:
F#/ G#m/ F# / G#m
E / G#m / E / G#m
Should be this:
C/ Dm/C/Dm
A#/ Dm/ A#/ Dm
So that's the only mistake. Hope that helps!
Thank u herman and christopher for correcting my mistakes,
Actually, why I switched to minor & major is, I thought when changing from B to key F
Major chords are the i iv v F B C respectively
Minor chords are the ii iii vi G A D respectively, so I thought when transposing B all minor and major should accompany with the key of F.
Accordingly, in the key of F the note A is 3rd minor, then how it is possible to shift to major note. I don't understand it?
Originally Posted by: Philip CharlesActually, why I switched to minor & major is, I thought when changing from B to key F Major chords are the i iv v F B C respectively[/quote]2 things here.
1. Major chords are labeled with upper case Roman Numerals: I - IV - V. Minor chords are lower case: ii - iii - vi. Diminished is also lower case: vii dim.
2. The 4th scale degree in F major is B-flat (Bb). So the IV chord in F major is B-flat major.
[quote=Philip Charles]Minor chords are the ii iii vi G A D respectively, so I thought when transposing B all minor and major should accompany with the key of F.
The order of chord qualities does not change when you change key.
This tutorial covers harmonizing the major scale, chord quality & chord progressions within a key.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2387
In all 12 possible major keys this is always true:
I - "1 chord" is Tonic (or Root)[br]ii -"2 chord" is Sub-Dominant[br]iii - "3 chord" is Mediant (or Intermediant)[br]IV - "4 chord" is Sub-Dominant[br]V - "5 chord" is Dominant[br]vi - "6 chord" is Intermediate (or Sub-Mediant)[br]vii dim - "7 chord" is Dominant
So, in the key of B major these are the chords:
B major chord (I)
C# minor chord (ii)
D# minor (iii)
E major (IV)
F# major (V)
G# minor (vi)
A# diminished (vii dim)
And in the key of F major these are the chords:
F major chord (I)
G minor chord (ii)
A minor (iii)
B-flat major (IV)
C major (V)
D minor (vi)
E diminished (vii dim)
Always the same order of major & minor chord qualities. Only the letters change. Make sense?
Thank you very much, now I'm clear with the concept,
Thanks for explaining me until I get it, even you might get frustrated, when I ask again and again.
Thanks
Charles
Maybe Charles you are confusing scale formulas with scale chords, they are not the same thing. For transposing it is only the formula that counts and not wether they are major or minor, that belongs to theory of the chords within a scale.
Glad you got it!
Originally Posted by: Philip CharlesThanks for explaining me until I get it, even you might get frustrated, when I ask again and again.
I don't get frustrated with sincere questions. I enjoy discussing the technical aspects of music. Keep asking! :)
