Episode 10 discusses how musicians take a melody, and move the group of pitches all equally up or down by one specific interval size and quality.
Episode 10 discusses how musicians take a melody, and move the group of pitches all equally up or down by one specific interval size and quality. Get tips on how to transpose visually by analyzing notated music (1:08) and aurally. Practice with four listening examples. (1:50) (2:45) (4:00) (4:40)
Question of the day:(6:13) What tool is used to transpose quickly on instruments such as guitar and ukulele?
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Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap: Music Theory Edition. Today’s episode will recap Melodic Transposition
Lets Zoom out:
We’re in Unit 2 - Music Fundamentals
Topic 2.10
Our Big idea is pitch.
Melody is formed by a series of pitches, typically organized into phrases. It can be made expressive through elements of music such as: articulation, timbre, dynamics, tempo and harmony. Sometimes, musicians need to take a melody, and move the group of pitches all equally up or down by one specific interval size and quality. This is called melodic transposition.
Lets Zoom in:
In order to practice melodic transposition, you will need to analyze notated music. Double check that the rhythm and time signature stays the same when transposing. Make sure the key signature reflects the transposition you’re looking to do. If there are accidentals, they should also be included with the correct alterations. Consult the trusty Circle of fifths to help you know how the key signature should change. The only time the key signature doesn’t need to change is when you are transposing between a relative minor and major key.
I’m going to keep on singing the praises of using folk songs to help you practice. After analyzing transposition through notation, you should listen to a melody and it’s transposed melody. Try to identify how it was transposed.
Let’s practice using the song “Oh Susanna.” If the song is originally in F major (Recording of the song in F major) How is it transposed now? (Recording in G major) This melody was transposed up a Major 2nd, to G major.
Here is the original melody again (Recording in F major) How have I transposed it now? (Recording in F minor) The melody was transposed to F minor, which would only require a change in key signature from one flat, to four flats.
Here is the original melody (Recording in F major) How have I transposed it now? (Recording in Bb major) The melody was transposed down a perfect fifth, or you could also look at it as up a perfect fourth. It is now in Bb major.
One last example, here is the original melody. (Recording in F major) Here it is transposed (Recording in D minor) It was down a minor third, or up a major sixth. This was transposed to the related minor key, D minor. This means the key signature would stay the same.
Solfege can help decode the melody to transpose aurally. Then analyze the interval size between the starting pitch of the original, and the starting pitch of the transposed example. To help you find the interval difference in starting pitches, use the iconic melodies shown in Episode 9, interval size and quality. You can notate the transposed melody after decoding the original pitches and finding the transposing interval.
To recap……
Melodic transposition is when you take a group of pitches and move them all equally. Consider interval size and quality when transposing. The circle of fifths can help you determine how the key signature could change. The rhythm and time signature should remain the same. Practice transposing aurally and through analyzing notation.
Coming up next on the Apsolute RecAP Music Theory Edition: Transposing Instruments
Today’s Question of the day is about transposition.
Question: What tool is used to transpose quickly on instruments such as a guitar or ukulele?