C
C# / Db
D
D# / Eb
E
F
F# / Gb
G
G# / Ab
A
A# / Bb
B
Use negative numbers to transpose down (e.g., -3).
How to Transpose Music
Transposition is the process of moving a collection of notes (a melody, a chord, or an entire piece of music) up or down in pitch by a constant interval. This is an essential skill for singers who need to adjust a song to their vocal range or for instrumentalists playing transposing instruments like the Clarinet (Bb) or Alto Sax (Eb).
Understanding Semitones
In Western music, the smallest interval is a semitone (also known as a half-step). There are 12 semitones in an octave. To transpose accurately, you must count the number of semitones between your current key and your target key.
Example 1: Transposing Up
If your song is in the key of C Major and you want to move it up to D Major, you are moving up 2 semitones (C to C#, C# to D).
Example 2: Transposing Down
If you have a high note of G and you need it to be 3 semitones lower (an E), you would enter -3 into the calculator.
Common Transposition Intervals
Major Second: 2 semitones
Minor Third: 3 semitones
Major Third: 4 semitones
Perfect Fourth: 5 semitones
Perfect Fifth: 7 semitones
Octave: 12 semitones
Why Musicians Use This Tool
Professional musicians often use a transpose music calculator to quickly find the correct chords for a different key without having to manually rewrite the entire lead sheet. This is particularly helpful when collaborating with vocalists who may find the original key too high or too low for their specific tessitura.
function calculateTransposition() {
var notes = [
"C",
"C# / Db",
"D",
"D# / Eb",
"E",
"F",
"F# / Gb",
"G",
"G# / Ab",
"A",
"A# / Bb",
"B"
];
var startNoteIndex = parseInt(document.getElementById("originalNote").value);
var shift = parseInt(document.getElementById("semitones").value);
if (isNaN(shift)) {
alert("Please enter a valid number for semitones.");
return;
}
// Mathematical modulo to handle negative shifts and wrapping around the 12-note scale
var resultIndex = (startNoteIndex + shift) % 12;
// Adjust for negative results in Javascript modulo
if (resultIndex < 0) {
resultIndex += 12;
}
var resultNote = notes[resultIndex];
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("transposition-result");
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Transposed Note: " + resultNote;
}