Clef Transposition (Page 4 of 7) in pdf

Therefore, this is an A transposition; we call it A because A is a minor third down

from C. Performing the A transposition on a piece in F Major results in D Major.

• Transposing down a fifth: going from C Major, this would mean moving to F Major.

F Major lies one ‘notch’ to the left on the cycle of fifths:

From here

To here

Therefore, this is an F transposition; we call it F because F is a fifth down from

C. Performing an F transposition on a piece in A Major will result in D Major.

At this point you’re ready to understand what the various transpositions would be called –

in fact, you can figure it out easily enough for yourself. You model the name of the

transposition on a distance from C. So if you’re transposing downwards by a perfect

fourth, think of the note a perfect fourth below C: it’s G. Therefore such transpositions

are called G transposition, and you can understand the change in key signature by

knowing the name: it’s one ‘notch’ in the sharp direction on the cycle of fifths (because G

is one notch in the sharp direction on the cycle of fifths from C.)

There’s an even easier mnemonic to remember how to change the key signature: just

think of the major key signature for the name of the transposition. In other words, if we

call this an E-flat transposition, think E-flat Major: that’s three flats. Therefore you

move three notches in the flat direction on the cycle of fifths. If it’s an F transposition,

think of F Major: that’s one flat. Therefore you you move one notch in the flat direction

on the cycle of fifths. For D transposition, think D Major: two sharps; ergo, two notches

in the sharp direction on the cycle of fifths.

Dealing With Accidentals

So far, we’ve ascertained that you can transpose a passage by mentally changing the clef

and also by changing the key signature in accord with the desired transposition. So far, so

good.

Clef Transposition Page 4