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How to Transpose From C to B Flat

When performing on your instrument, you may need to transpose a song. This is normally done when accompanying or playing a duet. Because instruments vary in their tonic key, a key that is easy for one instrument may be more difficult for another. The trumpet is in the key of Bb. This means that Concert "Bb" is the trumpet's "C." If you are accompanying a trumpet player who is not a professional, you will want to play your accompaniment in the key of Bb.

Things You'll Need

  • Instrument
  • Pencil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write out all the notes between C and B. They are C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, B.

    • 2

      Assign each note a number 1-12. In this case: C=1, C#=2, D=3, Eb=4, E=5, F=6, F#=7, G=8, Ab=9, A=10, Bb=11, B=12.

    • 3

      Write out all of the notes between Bb and A. It will look like this: Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A.

    • 4

      Assign each note a number. It will look like this: Bb=1, B=2, C=3, C#=4, D=5, Eb=6, E=7, F=8, F#=9, G=10, Ab=11, A=12.

    • 5

      Look at the music that you are transposing from your root, "C." Practice playing one bar of your song. For example, let's say it goes: C, G, F, E, D, C', G. This is the beginning of John William's "Star Wars" theme.

    • 6

      Assign each note you just played a number. 1, 8, 6, 5, 3, 1, 8

    • 7

      Match these numbers with the numbers that correspond to your Bb scale. Bb, F#, Eb, D, C, Bb', F#

    • 8

      Match the remaining notes in your song to the notes in the key of Bb.

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