transposing music
My sister and I are very new to music and to playing our instruments (violin and alto sax, respectively). We want to write down music that we can play together. However, the sax being a transposing instrument is causing us some difficulties. We can transpose notes (manually) but thought MuseScore might do this automatically for us. I have written in notes for the alto sax in the key of G major but then want to transpose the second stave for the violin. However, MuseScore does not put this into the correct key for violin and if I click 'concert pitch', it changes the sax key signature, not the violin key. Not being sufficiently proficient, I am not even sure what key signature would be correct for violin (up major 6 ---> F sharp?). I realise I am being very naive in my question but would love some help with this basic issue. With many thanks
Comments
MuseScore makes this very easy. Here are some hints that will help you.
The Concert pitch button - When this is pressed, it shows all instruments in concert pitch, which is the same key as the violin. When it is pressed it will show transposing instruments like the alto sax with their notes properly transposed.
If you want the alto sax to be in the key of G major, you need to subtract 3 sharps or add 3 flats (or a combinations) to the key signature to find the concert pitch key signature. Since G major has one sharp, you subtract that, then add 2 flats (for a total of 3) to the key signature to get the key with 2 flats - B flat major. This is concert pitch and the key the violin needs to be written in. This is also the key signature you need to put on the score for the sax to be properly transposed.
To write the music so it will sound proper, it is easiest to write in concert pitch. If you know then notes for the sax and want to add the violin, write the sax part with concert pitch turned off, turn on concert pitch and add the violin.
If the instruments play in unison (notes that sound the same), just copy from one to the other. If you avoid the low B flat on the sax, both instruments will have the same range and will allow unison for the instruments. The violin cannot normally play a sax's low B-flat. You can have concert pitch turned off when you copy and paste and you will see MuseScore automatically transpose the notes.
In reply to MuseScore makes this very… by mike320
That is very helpful, Mike. Thank you very much for taking the trouble. I think I will wait till tomorrow and try this when I am fresh but it is good news that it is possible to produce our 2 part duets. I think it will take a bit of patience to learn to use the software but, once familiar, should be a lot easier. Thank you again for your detailed explanation, which seems very clear.
In reply to That is very helpful, Mike… by Sue Binks
You are correct that it takes time to learn to use a complicated piece of software like MuseScore. All of this is very easy to me because I learned how to do it the same way you will. If you ever have questions, always feel free to ask and someone will get you an answer.