HOW TO USE TRANSPOSE ON PIANO/ KEYBOARD.
Hello there, welcome to PRiNCioLoGY Music Workshop, it’s so nice to have you here with me. I hope you learn something definite today.
What are we discussing today?
–TRANSPOSITION—
Why do we need this study? Learning music or playing a musical instrument like the piano, may seem to be a very difficult, challenging, time-taking and enervative task without this study. Several piano teachers hide this study from their students because they want the act of learning the instrument seem demanding, extend the period of learning and increase their pay. It’s just business –they tell you, you get out.
But in some cases, some teachers want to really make sure that they teach you the act of playing on all the keys. This is when learning the piano becomes tiresome and seems time-wasting.
With this study, you don’t need to learn all keys at first to be a good pianist. You will, of course, learn them when you continue playing. But for now, you can start playing well with the little you’ve got, just learn the use of transpose- it’s very simple.
So now, after clear understanding of the afore-stated explanation, let’s get started.
What is Transposition?
According to WikipediA,
Transposition refers to the process, or operation, of moving a collection of notes (pitches or pitch classes) up or down in pitch by a constant interval. The shifting of a melody, a harmonic progression or an entire musical piece to another key, while maintaining the same tone structure, i.e. the same succession of whole tones and semitones and the remaining melodic intervals. For example, one might transpose an entire piece of music into another key. Similarly, one might transpose a tone row or an unordered collection of pitches such as a chord so that it begins on another pitch.
From this definition, it is crystal clear, that transposition can be performed on a whole piece/sheet of music. Nevertheless, today, we are talking about transposing specifically on the piano- to play any kind of musical display/ performance. Instead of struggling with that key and hitting unwanted and unrhyming accidentals, simply conform to the simple use of transpose. That would be better, and make your play seem more professional. The truth is; no one cares if you are using a transpose or not, all people want in church or anywhere is to hear you play nicely and applaud your job.
To Start With!
Before you learn how to use the transpose, you must understand the knowledge of how to discern a key on the piano when you hear it. For example, let’s assume you are playing somewhere, and someone just starts a song before you reach the keyboard. You have to get the key the singer started, before you apply the transpose. Or else, you will go on and on in the wilderness or searching. The lesson of discussing this will be out soon; make sure you read it.
NOW, agreeing with the fact that you have gotten the key, or wants to search it with the transpose, let’s talk about how to use the transpose.
Ok, what you need to get first is that, there are 12 keys on the piano/keyboard.... A-G, major and minor. We have a key we call the middle C. Speaking of C, people play on it more than any other key, it is much easier to learn than any other key. Also, it is the basic of learning.
The twelve keys are also divided into white and black keys. We are not discussing this also today.
Yes, after getting where transpose is on your piano- not all piano have this feature (get that), you can then apply it; the screen of your piano should display something like.
TRANSPOSE
00
Very good, you should know that the transpose ranges from –12-+12. You can shift this figures to match any key you want. Your piano may have numbers, + and -, a combination of both, or a roller. Any of these serve the same purpose.
Very simple, all you need to know now is that adding or subtracting a figure from the transpose means playing on the next key (sharp), or the previous (flat).
Do you get that? For example, if you are playing on C and you shift the 00 transpose to 01, it means you shifting your key to C# (sharp), the black key above C. Similarly, if you reduce it to -01, it means you are stepping back a little to play on the key before C, Cb (flat) i.e B.
From this illustration, you should understand that a plus (+) on transpose means a key higher, and a minus (-), a key lower.
Very simple, isn’t it? Yes... So if a singer begins to sing, or a piece is on G, and you are at the keyboard, knowing how to play on C, you can do that perfectly well. All you have to do is to calculate with to add to C, to give us G. We have C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G. Count these keys from C# to G, you will see we have seven.
So to play the song in G on C, having known that the difference is seven, you go to your Transpose directly and press 7 or the + key seven times. Similarly, you can count the key behind C to reach G and apply the – key. It’s simple, very simple; needs simple arithmetic.
So next time you want to play, don’t be tensed up because you have to play on a certain key you don’t know or aren’t familiar with, just use transpose. Finally, it’s good to learn all keys and be prepared to do so; but also understand that life is in stages. That you are not there today doesn’t you won’t be there. The difference between There and Here is the T- time.
Hope you’ve learnt from this lesson; If you have, kindly comment. You can also hit me up me @ www.facebook.com/princiology2 . Or send me an email.... princiology2@gmail.com.
Stay Blessed; and watch out for more lessons.
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