Transcribing to Bb/Eb

[Superstition]

Could someone explain to me exactly how to do this? It has me confused.

[TonyB]

What are you transcribing?
Key of
Bb to Eb


Bb = Eb
C = F
D = G
Eb = Ab
F = Bb
G = C
A = D
Bb = Eb

Did this in my head; think I got the whole-half steps right.

[newkid]

Originally Posted by TonyB

What are you transcribing?
Key of
Bb to Eb


Bb = Eb
C = F
D = G
Eb = Ab
F = Bb
G = C
A = D
Bb = Eb

Did this in my head; think I got the whole-half steps right.

I thought you moved everything up the same number of half steps.
start with c c# d d# e f f# g g# a a# b c'
which equals c Db d Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C'
and then move every original note up the same amount
so if you go from Bb to Eb then that would be 5 half steps
so move any other note up the same amount by counting them
So C goes to F , D to G, etc. as shown

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by newkid

I thought you moved everything up the same number of half steps.
start with c c# d d# e f f# g g# a a# b c'
which equals c Db d Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B C'
and then move every original note up the same amount
so if you go from Bb to Eb then that would be 5 half steps
so move any other note up the same amount by counting them
So C goes to F , D to G, etc. as shown

Yes, that's what I did. Wasn't sure I did the math right (i.e., 5 half steps) in my head!

[paul999]

Originally Posted by TonyB

Yes, that's what I did. Wasn't sure I did the math right (i.e., 5 half steps) in my head!

I double checked your work TonyB and your right. Not like you need my confirmation or anything.

[garageband]

Transposing. It's called transposing. I'd recommend thinking in terms of intervals. Bb up to Eb is a perfect fourth. Bb down to Eb in a perfect fifth. The half-step thing is a little like taking off your shoes to add 6 to 12.

[paul999]

Originally Posted by garageband

Transposing. It's called transposing. I'd recommend thinking in terms of intervals. Bb up to Eb is a perfect fourth. Bb down to Eb in a perfect fifth. The half-step thing is a little like taking off your shoes to add 6 to 12.

Good description that's how I do it. .......The interval part not the shoe thing

[Superstition]

I understand the fundamentals of transposing, I just don't really 100% get it. Also, I apologize for the vague first post.

I just want to confirm or deny what I think I know.

So if I arranged a song in Concert C, to transpose it for an Eb instrument a C note would go up three half-steps to Eb, and to transpose it for a Bb instrument a C note would go down two half-steps to Bb, is this correct? Or am I off?

Because if I have that right then I'm good to go, I can figure out the rest.

[garageband]

to transpose it for a Bb instrument a C note would go down two half-steps to Bb,

Here's how it goes.
If you want a Bb instrument (tenor or soprano sax, trumpet, clarinet, bass clarinet) to play a concert C in the key of C, you need to write a D in the key of D (add two sharps). The "Bb" refers to the actual note sounded when they read, finger and play "C".