My daughter took up the Baritone horn (a Bb instrument) and played it in a marching band. I once tried to explain to her that what she calls a "C" is actually Bb but she didn't believe me. She even insisted that my piano is out of tune because her C was different to mine. Even when I confronted her with a 440hz tuning fork, she still insisted that "Well that's not an 'A' then". When I explained that the sheet music she's being provided is transposed to hide the difference, she just couldn't accept it. In the end I decided it might be better for her to just read it as she finds it to save confusion.
For some reason, I was never taught this in music school and have been banging my head trying to figure it out. Thank you so much for this video... it has saved me some serious anxiety.
At least transposing just one step (i.e. piano plays an A so trumpet plays a B, etc.) is much easier to figure out in your head than the larger transposition for Eb instruments. A piano song in the key of C usually has chords like C, F & G so on trumpet just imagine the key of D (one note higher) and the chords would be D, G & A and of course in the key of D, you have to remember there are 2 sharps (F & C).
Lower brass are not always in written in concert pitch, when they are written in bass clef they are in C, when they are written in treble they become Bb instruments
Question .. When playing my tenor sax and I am reading from music written for a B flat instrument . Do I play my lowest B flat on the instrument or one octave up? It seems from my real book that a very large number of songs contain those very base notes including sometimes low A or A flat which I don't have on my instrument.?
@@edthesaxplayer8450 the tenor is actually an octave and a second lower than concert pitch. so you might play n octave higher. real book is als for trumpet or clarinet, they can go down to fis or even e...
:) Thank you for the video! I feel as if those almost 5 minutes of my life were invested very well! :D You explained it very well! You earned yourself a new subscriber.
For the chart at 3:57, I THINK you switched the words "above" and "below" on the E flat instruments. I think, assuming I understood the rest of the video correctly. But thanks! This was super helpful.
No, he actually didn't. I know it seems wrong because alto is higher and whatever other reason, but no he actually wrote this entirely right! Nice that you gave some input if you were unsure though that really helps someone.
@@f4demusic920 Actually, Drew is correct and it is an error. Bb instruments sound a M2 lower than they're written. Eb instruments sound a m3 higher or a M6 lower than they're written (ex. written C sounds like Eb).
I agree Drew (and Max). A really helpful video (so thanks Jesse) but having stated that Eb instruments can be "WRITTEN either a minor 3rd above or a major 6th below", the example to demonstrate (Alto sax) then goes on to show the WRITTEN pitch a major 6th ABOVE sounding pitch. I really had to stop and think about this!!! Let's think of another example whose music is WRITTEN a minor 3rd above sounding pitch - Clarinet in A (not Eb!). So, in short it should be "Eb instruments can be WRITTEN either a minor 3rd BELOW or a major 6th ABOVE sounding pitch".
When a Bb instrument reads a C, it sounds a Bb. When an Eb instrument reads a C, it sounds an Eb. When an F instrument reads a C, it sounds an F. When a "X" instrument reads a C, it sounds an "X". The difference is the "interval of transposition." In brass parts written prior to the inclusion of valves, their parts were written in C but identified as being "[instrument] in [whatever key the piece was written in]" So, a Bach work in G would have a Horn part written in C but identified as Horn in G. The horn player would install his "G" slide (called a "crook") and, voila, you have a horn in G. There are instances where related keys are used so harmony is more easily achieved within the section (more common in Classical than Baroque). And there's the reality that instruments like Trombone and Euphonium are Bb instruments but do not transpose unless written in treble clef... But that's a story for another day....
So if i understand correctly, The reason for adding sharps or flats in the key signature is to maintain the correct intervals? Its just kinda confusing because when you transposed from C to the key of D major there was no indication that the melody was "in D" until you added the two sharps in the Key sig.
Otherwise you're playing in D Dorian mode (the D scale using the notes from C major ie all white keys on a piano) which has a flat 3rd (F) and 7th (C).
This seems a complicated subject because the music theory we have inherited, tends to simplify music notation around one treble stave, and one bass stave, which is good. Also, music written in certain keys (see the flats or sharps at the beginning of composition) sounds much better than music written fully chromatic, which sounds random. That simplicity of writing music nice and easy comes at the expense of inability to add every instruments' real pitches on that simple, 5-lines stave. To make room for all pitches we hear in the orchestra, and without transposition, the stave we should be using would have not 5 lines, but 25-30 lines, and should have no key signature; the music would be written fully chromatic, that is, with flats and sharps next to each note for each instrument. THAT would be a nightmare!
Just this morning, I was teaching my daughter, who plays trumpet, a melody on the piano. At first, I genuinely thought she was messing with me by playing the wrong notes-until I remembered the Bb tuning! Massive fail.
You are a boss! thank you for making something so simple and efficient. I read probably 500 pages and you summed it up better in 4 mins. Good Job Mate!
Trumpets in D are very common in Baroque music. Beethoven used this kind of trumpets in symphonies 2, 7, 8, 9. But it is easy to do the transposition, thinking in the piano, the sound or effect is just a degree above, a major second above of the written note.
Struggled with this for a looong time, but it's much clearer thanks to your video. Started on trombone, so I never had to worry about this headache lol.
I personally find it easier to think of it as a twist of the circle of fifth... I say: transposing instruments have signatures build in the instrument. Bb 2b, Eb 3b, F 1b or even a A clarinet 3# ( just like the major scale) their circle is turned just by that amount of bs or #s.. concert pitch = written pitch + instrument signature. done. example: concert pitch Eb (3b) gives written pitches F instrument 3b-1b=2b Bb, Bb instrument 3b-2b=1b F , Eb instrument 3b-3b= 0 ,C, A instrument 3b -3# = 3b + 3b = 6b Gb. no up and down confusion anymore.1b = -1# that is all.
I know this Sounds weird, but when I picked up the Alto Sax I thought with most all sheet music transcribed for piano why learn the instrument as a Eb instrument. So I transposed the the fingering to C concert. When I play a C it sounds like C concert not Eb. I transposed/ learned the fingering as I if I was playing a C concert instrument. My fingers go to C and it sounds like a C. I've never heard of anyone else doing this, so maybe it is a bad thing but it works perfectly for me.
I get that this is how it works, but WHY? Just write the music in concert pitch and learn it like that, i dont get it. The clefs move, just put in a spot that makes sense for the range of the instrument
Great question. I've got another video on the channel that answers why we have transposing instruments - it has less to do with clefs and more to do with the history of certain instruments.
I am desperately trying to understand transposition. I play clarinet in praise band at church. The music leader always provides me with sheet music in the correct key since my clarinet is B-flat. When he was out and someone substituted, I was provided with the wrong sheet music; I was provided the same as the piano which I knew doesn't work. When he asked me "what key do you need?" I said I didn't know because I don't understand transposition. Unfortunately, I'm still struggling even after watching this video. Like how do I know the transposed score for clarinet is D Major? By the first transposed note? Like how would I know that D major has 2 sharps? Is this just something that must be memorized? Or is there a formula to work it out? I'm really so confused. I wish I would have been taught this at a younger age. At 60 my brain is not what it used to be.
Bari sax is an Eb instrument (like the alto sax). Transposition is, in principle, the same for both. Bari sax is pitched an octave lower than the alto sax (bari's horn is twice as long), so although the notes are written on the stave for the sake of simplicity, they sound an octave lower. Again, all of this would be much easier if the music educators would teach us properly before we grab instruments to play. PS. Euphonium is a Bb pitched instrument.
@@allaroundgaming3774 generally speaking, yes. Sometimes guitar tabs are written down one octave. But you’re correct on how to get from concert pitch to trumpet.
Start from.the beginning. Maybe basic music theory. Or private lessins from city college. They're cheap. Or the also have Fundamentals of Music Theory. Easy class.
Is it alright to transpose parts of a song instead of the whole song? I want to adapt the music to an instrument for solo that doesn’t have the range needed. Sometimes I need to transpose down a fourth in some parts, but everything still sounds good when played together. Am I breaking any music laws here?
You're absolutely right. And some composers, like Prokofiev, have really wanted to update the system. All attempts have failed and we are left with this overly convoluted mess.
As a piano player who impulsively bought a saxophone knowing they were transposing instruments, I don't think it'll truly click until I start putting them together. Example, if I write a chord progression for piano and want to improvise on saxophone, I would write the chords a whole step up for the sax but the pitches would still sound the same? I think I get it but man it's so confusing
What I was planning to do when i get the trumpet I was going to look at the trumpets sheet music. Play the notes on the piano and play It on the trumpet. Can I still do that? Or would I have to move all the notes up one?
Does "written" mean written in concert pitch or written in the transposed sheet music? The terms "sounding, playing, and written" is what is confusing to me. So if see written music already in c and the note is e flat on top staff, and i want to transpose it to G for alto flute Step 1: i first figure interval c-g=5th because i am already in concert pitch, but I know that thr answer is a 4th??? What if i instead am playing "does thid mean "sounding" the written note already transposed into G or sounding the written note in concert pitch. The terms are what is losing me. And i need step 1 then 2 along with the terms explained.
Two Minute Music Theory Trumpets come in various different keys, as does Harmonicas, Saxophones, Clarinets, Oboes, Bassoons, Flutes, Carillons, you name it. The Key of G is another awesome transposition & some very adorable examples are the Alto Flute in G which transposes down a fourth & the G Treble flute which transposes up a fifth. The Turkish Oud does the exact same thing as the Alto Flute because Turkish people want you to transpose down a fourth from what's written. The C Tenor Flute & C Tenor Oboe sound an Octave Lower than written, as does the C Tenor Sax, & the False Treble Clef Cello Music is you heard this piece:ua-cam.com/video/R7GoVg9QtKQ/v-deo.html
the only thing i don’t understand is why when going from C to Eb, the C becomes and A and not an A# if it’s moving up a Major 6th (i don’t understand this too much yet, but i know major and minor are differentiated by how many half steps apart they are)
Okay, here's what I'm not getting. Using the A440 standard, middle C is defined as about 261 Hz. Assuming that other notes work the same way, why transpose in the first place? If you play a C, it should always be at 261 Hz or some octave above or below it right? Doesn't an E flat clarinet still produce a C at one of the above frequencies? Regardless of fingering used, if you play a sound from any instrument, and it is at 261 Hz, isn't it always a C? Some clarity would be appreciated. Thanks
Okay, so great question. You are correct, in A440, middle C will always sound right around that 261 Hz mark. The difference in these transposing instruments is how it is written. So a B flat trumpet will see a written D, which they will then use the fingering for D and it will sound a whole step lower at C261. This allows the trumpet to use the exact same fingerings no matter which trumpet (B flat, C, A, etc) they have. So yes, in terms of sounded pitch, the frequencies always stay the same, the difference is in how the player sees it on the page.
Pretty good description of how it works but you didn't seem to address one obvious point (unless I missed it, which is always possible!). You say transpose all the notes up/down a major 2nd (or whatever the transposing interval is) and then you say "and don't forget to put in the new key-signature". If you transpose all the notes by the same interval first of all, some of them would need sharps or flats like E up a major 2nd would need to be F#, not F). Here's the closely guarded secret: the key-signature does that for you. So however far and in which direction you need to transpose, make sure you start with the new key-signature, the you just move the notes up and down by the same distance on the stave. No more worrying about major or minor 2nds/3rds/whatever, because *the key-signature does it for you*. So just slide the whole tune up or down by one step of the stave. Or two if you're transposing by a third, and so on. Ignore all these instructions you see which tell you that you need to check each note separately to ensure the interval is correct. *The key-signature does it for you*. The only thing to be careful of is, if there's an accidental in the original, there will be an accidental in the transposed version, and if there isn't there won't be. Careful to note, accidentals doesn't mean just sharps, flats and naturals. it means sharps, flats and naturals which aren't in the key-signature.
It is still important to keep track of the specific interval (Major 2nd, etc). Although it went beyond the scope of this video, if a transposing instrument is playing a post-tonal piece, like Webern Symphonie, Op. 21, or something like that, there would be no key signature to fall back on. In this case, it is vitally important to know that the instrument transposes a Major 2nd, and not just a generic "2nd"
Two Minute Music Theory At 2:18 or about that time you said trumpet was in d major or something and you put 2 flats. I don't play trumpet but I play bass clarinet, tenor sax and alto sax. I want to transpose for alto sax from bass clarinet/tenor sax and it just doesn't make sense. I might just not realize something obvious but I'm definitely not understanding something.
Okay, so in that example we were transposing from a C instrument to a B flat instrument (trumpet), the same as bass clarinet and tenor sax. B flat is a whole step lower than C, so to transpose, we raise the trumpet part by a whole step to compensate. If we do that, the trumpet part ends up in D major, which is one whole step above C. So at 2:18, I added two sharps (F# and C#) which is the key signature of D major. I hope that makes more sense.
Okay, so in that example we were transposing from a C instrument to a B flat instrument (trumpet), the same as bass clarinet and tenor sax. B flat is a whole step lower than C, so to transpose, we raise the trumpet part by a whole step to compensate. If we do that, the trumpet part ends up in D major, which is one whole step above C. So at 2:18, I added two sharps (F# and C#) which is the key signature of D major. I hope that makes more sense.
Writing music when I was younger and even today, this sucks. But not hard to do. Since I play Clarinet, little bit of trumpet and violin and piano makes sense why you have to do it. The french horn in F always confuses me. Same with Alto and Tenor sax. I have to count and often refer to a chart particularly in concert keys that have more sharps or flats.
Which should Il be my focus: You, or the background music? I might be the only one, but for me, the music is terribly distracting. Would love to listen/watch, but just too much going on.
I have had this explained to me so many times... and I still don't get it... If it sounds like a Bb... that's a Bb! (settle in, this is gonna be wordy) For example, I think my confusion is this... why is a trumpeter taught that what sounds like a Bb on a piano is a C on their instrument? Why not just teach trumpeters that that is a Bb, and then write music correctly, since the sound is the end result we care about... or am I missing something? You mentioned at the beginning that having transposing instruments has to do with the "how it's played." So, this is really just to make learning other instruments easier? That seems dumb to me. I assume that means so that if you have a 3 valve instrument (trumpet, baritone, french horn) or something with a bunch of keys (oboe, clarinet, saxophone) a certain fingering is always called "C," even if the note produced on some instruments isn't a C. Is that right? That still seems dumb to me. This explains why some people can play so many instruments. We've rigged the system to make it easier. Technically, one of those instruments is learned, but then, if music were just written, and we had to learn around it, then learning similar instruments would mean using the same fingerings to play different notes between the instruments. For example, fingering what sounds like a C on "Instrument X" would produce a Bb on "Instrument Y", therefore learning it, technically correctly, would mean learning conflicting fingerings between instruments. They work the same way, so muscle memory would screw us up, huh? Have I finally understood this? I played trombone in high school, so this idea has always seemed really off to me. Just slide it till you find it. ;P OMG... you can practically see the gears grinding in my brain as you read the above, huh? If the ending statements are correct, then I literally, just learned all this while writing that paragraph.
The Horn in F sounds a perfect 5th lower than written, as F is a perfect 5th lower than C. So if I want the horn to play a middle C, I have to write its part a perfect 5th above that, so, G.
TIP: to quickly figure out notes transposed a Major 6 down, as is in the case of the alto and Bari sax, read it as if it were in the bass clef.
And add 3 flats!
Transposition of instruments is the area of music theory I find most difficult to get my head around.
This video made it much clearer. Thank you! 😊
Is there a road map?
My daughter took up the Baritone horn (a Bb instrument) and played it in a marching band. I once tried to explain to her that what she calls a "C" is actually Bb but she didn't believe me. She even insisted that my piano is out of tune because her C was different to mine. Even when I confronted her with a 440hz tuning fork, she still insisted that "Well that's not an 'A' then". When I explained that the sheet music she's being provided is transposed to hide the difference, she just couldn't accept it. In the end I decided it might be better for her to just read it as she finds it to save confusion.
As a violinist learning to play trumpet, this is confusing af.
Playing music on trumpet think every note in your concert music think it a note up so if you play a F for violin that a G for trumpet
@@PrinceSwaggy wow! Icant wait to be confused by these concepts
@@joseneron8023 it's hard just think of it as everything in concert pitch played up a major second so it matches
@@PrinceSwaggy love your name lol
It’s not nearly as hard as Eb transpositions
For some reason, I was never taught this in music school and have been banging my head trying to figure it out. Thank you so much for this video... it has saved me some serious anxiety.
it's vsauce with hair
What I've learned from this video: in case I'll ever want to learn trumpet I'll just buy one in C
Fine, but you'll still have to deal with transposing parts written for Bb trumpet!
@@jrlepage2a03 annoying
0815Snickersboy it’s true-
@@astralityyy having a C trumpet would be much much worse then having a Bb trumpet and occasionally transposing up one tone
At least transposing just one step (i.e. piano plays an A so trumpet plays a B, etc.) is much easier to figure out in your head than the larger transposition for Eb instruments. A piano song in the key of C usually has chords like C, F & G so on trumpet just imagine the key of D (one note higher) and the chords would be D, G & A and of course in the key of D, you have to remember there are 2 sharps (F & C).
Lower brass are not always in written in concert pitch, when they are written in bass clef they are in C, when they are written in treble they become Bb instruments
Question .. When playing my tenor sax and I am reading from music written for a B flat instrument . Do I play my lowest B flat on the instrument or one octave up? It seems from my real book that a very large number of songs contain those very base notes including sometimes low A or A flat which I don't have on my instrument.?
and in symphonic literature for bass clarinet you might even find Bb bass clef, which is hell.
@@edthesaxplayer8450 the tenor is actually an octave and a second lower than concert pitch. so you might play n octave higher. real book is als for trumpet or clarinet, they can go down to fis or even e...
title: 2 minute music theory
video length: *allow me to introduce myself*
:) Thank you for the video! I feel as if those almost 5 minutes of my life were invested very well! :D You explained it very well!
You earned yourself a new subscriber.
Very informative and easy to follow explanation. Thanks!
For the chart at 3:57, I THINK you switched the words "above" and "below" on the E flat instruments. I think, assuming I understood the rest of the video correctly.
But thanks! This was super helpful.
No, he actually didn't. I know it seems wrong because alto is higher and whatever other reason, but no he actually wrote this entirely right!
Nice that you gave some input if you were unsure though that really helps someone.
@@f4demusic920
Actually, Drew is correct and it is an error. Bb instruments sound a M2 lower than they're written. Eb instruments sound a m3 higher or a M6 lower than they're written (ex. written C sounds like Eb).
I agree Drew (and Max). A really helpful video (so thanks Jesse) but having stated that Eb instruments can be "WRITTEN either a minor 3rd above or a major 6th below", the example to demonstrate (Alto sax) then goes on to show the WRITTEN pitch a major 6th ABOVE sounding pitch. I really had to stop and think about this!!! Let's think of another example whose music is WRITTEN a minor 3rd above sounding pitch - Clarinet in A (not Eb!). So, in short it should be "Eb instruments can be WRITTEN either a minor 3rd BELOW or a major 6th ABOVE sounding pitch".
@@sallymacgregor4456 Yes I also agree with Drew & Max & Sally but still a very good video. Thanks.
Thank you! I was really confused about why and how you deal with transposing instruments, and this helped me understand it
Thanks, this video is a lifesaver, my music exam is tomorrow and I needed to know this
When a Bb instrument reads a C, it sounds a Bb. When an Eb instrument reads a C, it sounds an Eb. When an F instrument reads a C, it sounds an F. When a "X" instrument reads a C, it sounds an "X". The difference is the "interval of transposition."
In brass parts written prior to the inclusion of valves, their parts were written in C but identified as being "[instrument] in [whatever key the piece was written in]" So, a Bach work in G would have a Horn part written in C but identified as Horn in G. The horn player would install his "G" slide (called a "crook") and, voila, you have a horn in G. There are instances where related keys are used so harmony is more easily achieved within the section (more common in Classical than Baroque).
And there's the reality that instruments like Trombone and Euphonium are Bb instruments but do not transpose unless written in treble clef... But that's a story for another day....
So if i understand correctly, The reason for adding sharps or flats in the key signature is to maintain the correct intervals? Its just kinda confusing because when you transposed from C to the key of D major there was no indication that the melody was "in D" until you added the two sharps in the Key sig.
You got it !!!
Otherwise you're playing in D Dorian mode (the D scale using the notes from C major ie all white keys on a piano) which has a flat 3rd (F) and 7th (C).
This channel is awesome, I´m an audio engineer who only knows the basics of music but this channels helps me a lot, thanks man.
Thank for sharing! This is a great refresher.
This was surprisingly easy to understand. It’s really all about applying the rules of the transposing instrument and profiting.
Pretty clear for the basics. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you! I'm cramming for my music final and this really helped haha.
First advice I have seen which makes transposition a little clearer than the mud I had it viewed in earlier. Thanks
Extremely tight! Well done.
This seems a complicated subject because the music theory we have inherited, tends to simplify music notation around one treble stave, and one bass stave, which is good. Also, music written in certain keys (see the flats or sharps at the beginning of composition) sounds much better than music written fully chromatic, which sounds random. That simplicity of writing music nice and easy comes at the expense of inability to add every instruments' real pitches on that simple, 5-lines stave. To make room for all pitches we hear in the orchestra, and without transposition, the stave we should be using would have not 5 lines, but 25-30 lines, and should have no key signature; the music would be written fully chromatic, that is, with flats and sharps next to each note for each instrument. THAT would be a nightmare!
This was so amazingly helpful 👍
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for explaining such a challenging concept so well!
Glad it was helpful!
this made a ton of sense...finally clicking thanks!
I’m teaching a melody for class tomorrow and this just saved my life!
I just watched this with a student before working through some transposition drills - it was helpful - THANK YOU!
This video helps so much!!! Thank you!
thanks. i play calrient in my school band but piano on my personal time so I really needed this.
finally! something straight to the point. Thanks!
Thanks for the vid, mentioning the compensation for the transposed instruments was awesome. You explained it well
Thank you! So clear!
Just this morning, I was teaching my daughter, who plays trumpet, a melody on the piano. At first, I genuinely thought she was messing with me by playing the wrong notes-until I remembered the Bb tuning! Massive fail.
You are a boss! thank you for making something so simple and efficient. I read probably 500 pages and you summed it up better in 4 mins.
Good Job Mate!
Trumpets in D are very common in Baroque music. Beethoven used this kind of trumpets in symphonies 2, 7, 8, 9. But it is easy to do the transposition, thinking in the piano, the sound or effect is just a degree above, a major second above of the written note.
Thankyou, this was incredible!
Struggled with this for a looong time, but it's much clearer thanks to your video. Started on trombone, so I never had to worry about this headache lol.
Great to hear!
Sir ,thank you very much for your clear explanation.
Awesome explanation thank youuuuu!
I personally find it easier to think of it as a twist of the circle of fifth... I say: transposing instruments have signatures build in the instrument. Bb 2b, Eb 3b, F 1b or even a A clarinet 3# ( just like the major scale) their circle is turned just by that amount of bs or #s.. concert pitch = written pitch + instrument signature. done. example: concert pitch Eb (3b) gives written pitches F instrument 3b-1b=2b Bb, Bb instrument 3b-2b=1b F , Eb instrument 3b-3b= 0 ,C, A instrument 3b -3# = 3b + 3b = 6b Gb. no up and down confusion anymore.1b = -1# that is all.
Omg thank you sooo much brother!!! Thank you!
When I was in high school I tried to learn French horn but I only had a trumpet book. Only instrument I've ever given up trying to play :-)
1:01 "Practically speaking there are two different types of transposition"
Me: Yeah but I play French horn so anything is game.
this helped me study for my midterm
I know this Sounds weird, but when I picked up the Alto Sax I thought with most all sheet music transcribed for piano why learn the instrument as a Eb instrument. So I transposed the the fingering to C concert. When I play a C it sounds like C concert not Eb. I transposed/ learned the fingering as I if I was playing a C concert instrument. My fingers go to C and it sounds like a C. I've never heard of anyone else doing this, so maybe it is a bad thing but it works perfectly for me.
Great video, you deserve more subscribers!
Excellent!!
I get that this is how it works, but WHY? Just write the music in concert pitch and learn it like that, i dont get it. The clefs move, just put in a spot that makes sense for the range of the instrument
Great question. I've got another video on the channel that answers why we have transposing instruments - it has less to do with clefs and more to do with the history of certain instruments.
A treble clef think mezzo clef; E treble clef bass clef; G treble clef think baritone clef
thank you so much I have a AP test tomorrow
Trombibe and tuba are actually Bb, but play in C when written in bass clef.
Great video...thanks!
Well explained, thank you good sir
Thanks! That was really helpful to me!
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's probably 2 semitones above a duck.
I am desperately trying to understand transposition. I play clarinet in praise band at church. The music leader always provides me with sheet music in the correct key since my clarinet is B-flat. When he was out and someone substituted, I was provided with the wrong sheet music; I was provided the same as the piano which I knew doesn't work. When he asked me "what key do you need?" I said I didn't know because I don't understand transposition. Unfortunately, I'm still struggling even after watching this video. Like how do I know the transposed score for clarinet is D Major? By the first transposed note? Like how would I know that D major has 2 sharps? Is this just something that must be memorized? Or is there a formula to work it out? I'm really so confused. I wish I would have been taught this at a younger age. At 60 my brain is not what it used to be.
4:11 what about euphonium or Bari sax?
Bari sax is an Eb instrument (like the alto sax). Transposition is, in principle, the same for both. Bari sax is pitched an octave lower than the alto sax (bari's horn is twice as long), so although the notes are written on the stave for the sake of simplicity, they sound an octave lower. Again, all of this would be much easier if the music educators would teach us properly before we grab instruments to play.
PS. Euphonium is a Bb pitched instrument.
Excellent.
my head hurts bro
So if I wanted to transpose guitar tabs to trumpet, I just have to put the notes up 2 half steps?
@@allaroundgaming3774 generally speaking, yes. Sometimes guitar tabs are written down one octave. But you’re correct on how to get from concert pitch to trumpet.
Thanks!
Yikes! Sorry wrong classroom... I'm just starting out... But I am scared now.
Start from.the beginning. Maybe basic music theory. Or private lessins from city college. They're cheap. Or the also have Fundamentals of Music Theory. Easy class.
Is it alright to transpose parts of a song instead of the whole song? I want to adapt the music to an instrument for solo that doesn’t have the range needed. Sometimes I need to transpose down a fourth in some parts, but everything still sounds good when played together. Am I breaking any music laws here?
Thank you!
Thank you
Is there a normal clarinet no b flat?
Thanks for this! It's confusing as a composer when writing for all of these different instruments.
So i guess you can write a trumpet like normal?>
Just dabbling in music theory, this seems bizarre and impossible to explain apart from lazy convention.
You're absolutely right. And some composers, like Prokofiev, have really wanted to update the system. All attempts have failed and we are left with this overly convoluted mess.
Even though this was confusing, you did a great job at explaining it.
I have to agree with you. It is a good illustration on how transposing instruments.
Cool video. x
thanks and great background music as well. What is it?
As a piano player who impulsively bought a saxophone knowing they were transposing instruments, I don't think it'll truly click until I start putting them together. Example, if I write a chord progression for piano and want to improvise on saxophone, I would write the chords a whole step up for the sax but the pitches would still sound the same? I think I get it but man it's so confusing
What I was planning to do when i get the trumpet I was going to look at the trumpets sheet music. Play the notes on the piano and play It on the trumpet. Can I still do that? Or would I have to move all the notes up one?
Does "written" mean written in concert pitch or written in the transposed sheet music? The terms "sounding, playing, and written" is what is confusing to me. So if see written music already in c and the note is e flat on top staff, and i want to transpose it to G for alto flute Step 1: i first figure interval c-g=5th because i am already in concert pitch, but I know that thr answer is a 4th??? What if i instead am playing "does thid mean "sounding" the written note already transposed into G or sounding the written note in concert pitch. The terms are what is losing me. And i need step 1 then 2 along with the terms explained.
I’m just tryna play classic rock guitar lines on my saxophone
usually clarinets never play in keys which use more than four flats or sharps one just switches instruments
Two Minute Music Theory Trumpets come in various different keys, as does Harmonicas, Saxophones, Clarinets, Oboes, Bassoons, Flutes, Carillons, you name it. The Key of G is another awesome transposition & some very adorable examples are the Alto Flute in G which transposes down a fourth & the G Treble flute which transposes up a fifth. The Turkish Oud does the exact same thing as the Alto Flute because Turkish people want you to transpose down a fourth from what's written. The C Tenor Flute & C Tenor Oboe sound an Octave Lower than written, as does the C Tenor Sax, & the False Treble Clef Cello Music is you heard this piece:ua-cam.com/video/R7GoVg9QtKQ/v-deo.html
D trumpet users be like
@@Jwellsuhhuh Bach's Christmas Oratorio was written for D Trumpets which speak a whole step higher than written.
@@RockStarOscarStern634 no way i never knew that a d trumpet is a whole step higher than written
Me: has somewhat perfect pitch and is used to concert pitch
Also me: starter Bb clarinet.
*Visible contusion with a C sounfing like a conxert B flat*
Is it in d major because it starts with D ?
the only thing i don’t understand is why when going from C to Eb, the C becomes and A and not an A# if it’s moving up a Major 6th (i don’t understand this too much yet, but i know major and minor are differentiated by how many half steps apart they are)
How do you change the key signature?
It's extremely informative and the examples helped. But the background music is very distracting when you try to listen and comprehend this subject.
thank you so much i fr thought i was gonna fail my music theory test
Glad I could help!
Thanks A-LOT😎👍
How do you transpose from an alto sax to tenor sax
I think I get (im a Bflat trumpet player) so if someone told me to play a concert G would that be A for me?
What does P5 stand for?
Perfect Fifth
As a pianist and a Tenor,
Playing other instruments by yourself is easy.
Until you attempt to read the score and play. 😂😂😂😂😂 #fml
Okay, here's what I'm not getting. Using the A440 standard, middle C is defined as about 261 Hz. Assuming that other notes work the same way, why transpose in the first place? If you play a C, it should always be at 261 Hz or some octave above or below it right? Doesn't an E flat clarinet still produce a C at one of the above frequencies? Regardless of fingering used, if you play a sound from any instrument, and it is at 261 Hz, isn't it always a C? Some clarity would be appreciated. Thanks
Okay, so great question. You are correct, in A440, middle C will always sound right around that 261 Hz mark. The difference in these transposing instruments is how it is written. So a B flat trumpet will see a written D, which they will then use the fingering for D and it will sound a whole step lower at C261. This allows the trumpet to use the exact same fingerings no matter which trumpet (B flat, C, A, etc) they have. So yes, in terms of sounded pitch, the frequencies always stay the same, the difference is in how the player sees it on the page.
Pretty good description of how it works but you didn't seem to address one obvious point (unless I missed it, which is always possible!). You say transpose all the notes up/down a major 2nd (or whatever the transposing interval is) and then you say "and don't forget to put in the new key-signature". If you transpose all the notes by the same interval first of all, some of them would need sharps or flats like E up a major 2nd would need to be F#, not F). Here's the closely guarded secret: the key-signature does that for you. So however far and in which direction you need to transpose, make sure you start with the new key-signature, the you just move the notes up and down by the same distance on the stave. No more worrying about major or minor 2nds/3rds/whatever, because *the key-signature does it for you*. So just slide the whole tune up or down by one step of the stave. Or two if you're transposing by a third, and so on. Ignore all these instructions you see which tell you that you need to check each note separately to ensure the interval is correct. *The key-signature does it for you*. The only thing to be careful of is, if there's an accidental in the original, there will be an accidental in the transposed version, and if there isn't there won't be. Careful to note, accidentals doesn't mean just sharps, flats and naturals. it means sharps, flats and naturals which aren't in the key-signature.
It is still important to keep track of the specific interval (Major 2nd, etc). Although it went beyond the scope of this video, if a transposing instrument is playing a post-tonal piece, like Webern Symphonie, Op. 21, or something like that, there would be no key signature to fall back on. In this case, it is vitally important to know that the instrument transposes a Major 2nd, and not just a generic "2nd"
usually horns trumpets play in c major a minor c minor only and switch croiks
I don't understand why you put the flats in when transposing, could you explain that?
Ethan Campbell I'm not sure I understand what part specifically you are referring to. Do you mind elaborating?
Two Minute Music Theory At 2:18 or about that time you said trumpet was in d major or something and you put 2 flats. I don't play trumpet but I play bass clarinet, tenor sax and alto sax. I want to transpose for alto sax from bass clarinet/tenor sax and it just doesn't make sense. I might just not realize something obvious but I'm definitely not understanding something.
Okay, so in that example we were transposing from a C instrument to a B flat instrument (trumpet), the same as bass clarinet and tenor sax. B flat is a whole step lower than C, so to transpose, we raise the trumpet part by a whole step to compensate. If we do that, the trumpet part ends up in D major, which is one whole step above C. So at 2:18, I added two sharps (F# and C#) which is the key signature of D major. I hope that makes more sense.
Okay, so in that example we were transposing from a C instrument to a B flat instrument (trumpet), the same as bass clarinet and tenor sax. B flat is a whole step lower than C, so to transpose, we raise the trumpet part by a whole step to compensate. If we do that, the trumpet part ends up in D major, which is one whole step above C. So at 2:18, I added two sharps (F# and C#) which is the key signature of D major. I hope that makes more sense.
so if a understand correctly different instrument a different pich. so it's to avoid having music sheets written all over?
sir! please said about some composers writing for brass and wind instruments in C
!!
You also forgot double bass for octave transposing
Writing music when I was younger and even today, this sucks.
But not hard to do. Since I play Clarinet, little bit of trumpet and violin and piano makes sense why you have to do it. The french horn in F always confuses me. Same with Alto and Tenor sax. I have to count and often refer to a chart particularly in concert keys that have more sharps or flats.
also sharp vs flat keys
Which should Il be my focus: You, or the background music? I might be the only one, but for me, the music is terribly distracting. Would love to listen/watch, but just too much going on.
I have had this explained to me so many times... and I still don't get it... If it sounds like a Bb... that's a Bb! (settle in, this is gonna be wordy)
For example, I think my confusion is this... why is a trumpeter taught that what sounds like a Bb on a piano is a C on their instrument? Why not just teach trumpeters that that is a Bb, and then write music correctly, since the sound is the end result we care about... or am I missing something?
You mentioned at the beginning that having transposing instruments has to do with the "how it's played." So, this is really just to make learning other instruments easier? That seems dumb to me. I assume that means so that if you have a 3 valve instrument (trumpet, baritone, french horn) or something with a bunch of keys (oboe, clarinet, saxophone) a certain fingering is always called "C," even if the note produced on some instruments isn't a C. Is that right? That still seems dumb to me. This explains why some people can play so many instruments. We've rigged the system to make it easier. Technically, one of those instruments is learned, but then, if music were just written, and we had to learn around it, then learning similar instruments would mean using the same fingerings to play different notes between the instruments. For example, fingering what sounds like a C on "Instrument X" would produce a Bb on "Instrument Y", therefore learning it, technically correctly, would mean learning conflicting fingerings between instruments. They work the same way, so muscle memory would screw us up, huh? Have I finally understood this?
I played trombone in high school, so this idea has always seemed really off to me. Just slide it till you find it. ;P
OMG... you can practically see the gears grinding in my brain as you read the above, huh? If the ending statements are correct, then I literally, just learned all this while writing that paragraph.
What if transposing from b-flat to f
Mate the last part, It's on the Key Of G
But you use a F Instrument, how does that work
The Horn in F sounds a perfect 5th lower than written, as F is a perfect 5th lower than C. So if I want the horn to play a middle C, I have to write its part a perfect 5th above that, so, G.