Transposition (music)

In music transposition is moving a note or collection of notes (or pitches) up or down in pitch by a constant interval. This could be transposing a piece of music into another key, transposing a tone row or an unordered collection of pitches such as a chord so that it begins on another pitch. See also Transposing instrument and modulation.

Related Topics:
Music - Note - Pitches - Interval - Key - Tone row - Chord - Transposing instrument - Modulation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For instance, the notes, C-E-G, transposed up a major third become E-G#-B.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Diatonic transposition is transposition according to diatonic intervals. It may be thought of as strict transposition, as above, that is then altered to conform to the diatonic scale.

Related Topics:
Diatonic - Altered

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For instance, the notes above, C-E-G, transposed up a third become E-G-B.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Transpositional equivalency is the concept that intervals and chords are the same or similar when transposed. It is similar to enharmonic equivalency and octave equivalency. Transpositional equivalency is generally supposed by most music theory in that chords which may be transposed onto one another share something in common. However, taking them to be identical or near-identical is only assumed in musical set theory.

Related Topics:
Enharmonic equivalency - Octave equivalency - Musical set theory

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Using integer notation and modulo 12, to transpose a pitch x by n semitones:

Related Topics:
Integer notation - Modulo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:T^p_n (x) = x+n

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

or

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:T^p_n (x) ightarrow x+n

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For pitch class transposition by an pitch class interval:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:T_n (x) = x+n (mod 12)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Rahn, John. Basic Atonal Theory)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~