The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

part on your own!
Finale’s Key Signature dialog box; the Transposition Options section lets you choose between
transposing the notes when you change keys and holding the notes to their original pitches.
The Least You Need to Know
◆
Transposition is the art of moving notes and chords from one key to another.
◆
You need to learn transposition for those times when a singer requests a
song in a different key, you or other musicians can’t play in the original
key, or you’re composing or arranging for instruments that don’t play in
concert key.
◆
You can transpose a melody by counting the half steps from one key to
another, noting the scale degrees of the original melody and chords, or
using the intervals between the notes of the melody.
◆
Many computerized music notation programs will automatically transpose
your music for you with the click of a mouse.
Learn more about music
notation programs in
Chapter 19.
Note
Exercises
Exercise 14-1
Use the step-based method to transpose this melody from the key of F to the key of G. (Watch the
change from flats to sharps!)

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Part 4:
Accompanying
184
Exercise 14-2
Use the degree-based method to transpose this chord progression from the key of A
to the key of E.
Exercise 14-3
Use the interval-based method to transpose this melody from the key of B
to the key of A.
Exercise 14-4
Use whatever method you like to transpose the following chords and melody from the key of C to the key
of E.

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Discover how to fill out your music with lush harmonies and interesting counter-
point, and how to jazz up a tune with fancy chord substitutions. Bonus chapter:
more fiddly notation marks!
5