To transpose music means to move a song up or down from one key to another. Note that the sol-fa remain the same in the new key as in the original. In addition, all the note values are also the same. It is important to ensure the interval remains constant whether the new version is a third higher or lower, a fifth higher or lower and so on. The stems in the transposed version should also go in the correct direction. The rules in music regarding stems for single line melodies are as follows:
- Notes above the middle line on the staff have their stems going down on the left side
- Notes below the middle line on the staff have their stems going up on the right side
- Notes on the middle line can have their stems either going up or down
Let’s now analyse what we have just learnt with a simple example. Below is the song Lightly Row. It is in the key of G Major. It is in G major because the last note is G and the key signature has 1 sharp (F Sharp). Learn more about key signatures here. In addition, notice that the first and last chord in the song is G. The chords are the letters above the music.
Below is Lightly Row again. This time it is in C major. It is in C major because the last note now is C and the key signature has no sharps or flats. In addition, notice that the first and last chord in the song is C. Thus, in the example below, Lightly Row was transposed a perfect 5th down from G to C. Note that it was necessary to change the direction of the stems for the notes in C major.
Below is another example for us to analyze. It is in the key of A minor. It is in A minor because the first and last notes are A and the key signature has no sharps or flats.
Below is the melody above transposed to the key of E minor. It is now in E minor because the first and last notes are E and the key signature has 1 sharp (F sharp). Thus, in the example below, the melody was transposed a perfect 4th down from A minor to E minor. Note that the accidental (D sharp in bar 3) was inserted as there is an accidental in the original key (note G sharp). In addition, the slurs and staccatos were also added because they were written in the original key.
So here is a summary of what to look for when you transpose music:
- Keep the interval constant throughout
- Change the direction of the stems if required as per the rules explained above
- Keep the note values the same as in the original key
- Add the new key signature
- Insert accidentals if there are accidentals in the original
- Add slurs, staccatos and other expression marks if they are present in the original piece
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