Melodic Transposition

Introduction

Well, this should be easy! We technically already covered this topic when going over transposing instruments, but we'll recap it here again as well.

What is transposition?

Simply put, transposition is the act of moving every note in a given passage up or down a constant amount. In other words, we will retain the rhythmic and intervallic content of the melody, but move it to a different pitch level. For example, let's transpose the C major scale up by a whole step. First, can you write out the notes of a C major scale?

Here they are:

C D E F G A B C

Now, if we want to transpose up by a whole step, we can simply move every note up a whole step:

D E F# G A B C# D

Notice that this is just the D major scale! So, what can we take away from this? Well, one way of transposing would simply be to start on the tonic of the new key and play in that key!

Hearing transpositions

So, how can we listen to music and identify transpositions? Well, we already have some practice with this (recall the difference between closely and distantly related keys). But, let's practice finding the specific keys. The way to do this is to be able to hear the relationship between the tonic notes (think back to the Hamilton example). 

Listen to the excerpt starting at 2:40 in this pop song:

If the first key is G major, what is the second?

Now listen to this Symphony by Mozart from 0:00 to 0:45

Does the excerpt feel resolved? What scale degree does the bass line end on?

Now, listen to the excerpt from 0:45 to 1:27.

Are we in the same key as the first excerpt? What scale degree does this bass line end on?

Now, listen to both excerpts (0:00 to 1:27). In relation to the first key, what scale degree is the new tonic of the key we change to?

*Use a piano to help you figure it out if needed. Only look at the score as a last resort.

Here are the answers:

Michael Jackson song: Ab major

Mozart symphony: 

Practice

First, transpose the Violin 1 for the first twelve measures of the Mozart symphony above to E minor.

Then. take a familiar melody (Happy Birthday, for example) and figure out how to play it on your instrument or voice. Then, transpose it to a random, other key of your choosing.