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How to transpose from C to E flat.

Sue Yang
Instrumental Music Teacher
Sue Yang is an Instrumental Music Instructor based in Sunnyvale, CA. With over 22 years of experience, Sue's expertise spans piano, voice, violin, and songwriting. After working in performance, event production, and teaching, Sue served as a resident bilingual music instructor at the International School of The Peninsula in Palo Alto, where she played a crucial role in developing the curriculum from nursery school through 5th grade. In 2009, Sue established the Sue Yang Music Studio, which later became the First Movement Music Academy. Sue is also the founder of the TAJCCNC National iSing singing competition in North America and an active contributor to the Taiwanese-American Chamber of Commerce. She graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in Australia with a Bachelor of Music.

Sue Yang

Instrumental Music Teacher

Expert Answer

You can transpose C to E flat by moving the note up a minor third. For example, if you have a note C, transpose it to E flat; if you have a note D, transpose it to F. Alternatively, you can move each note down a major sixth, but moving up a minor third is often simpler and more intuitive for most musicians, especially for beginners.

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If a piano plays "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" in the key of C, what is the first note pitch? What is the french horn's first note pitch?

Community Answer

The piano's first note will most likely be C (Do), and the french horn's first note will be F (Fa).

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If I want to play "We Three Kings," and it's written in E minor for a piano, do I transpose it to A minor for a french horn?

Community Answer

Yes, if you want the french horn to sound in Em, you have to write its part in Am.

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Question

What will G7 transpose to in the key of F?

Jelke de Jong

Community Answer

C7, so that would make it C E G Bb. That's because G7 is the dominant of C, and thus C7 will be the dominant of F.

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If the piece is Ab what would be the key of the horn?

Community Answer

The key would be Eb.

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If a piano piece is in the key of F, what would be the key of the horn?

Gabe

Community Answer

An F instrument would be in the key of C. For transposing to a concert instrument from an F instrument, just go down 4 steps (and vice versa).

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How to transpose the Happy Birthday song in the key of C major to F major?

Community Answer

To transpose 'Happy Birthday' from C major to F major, simply play each note 6 half-steps (semitones) higher.

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My grandson plays an alto saxophone, and the song he is playing is in the key if G major. What key do I play in on the piano to accompany him?

Community Answer

You would be playing in the key of Bb. A trick with transposing is, the alto sax plays three half steps down from a concert-pitched instrument (flute, piano, etc.)

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