Not so long ago I was required to do something similar for another guy who could only play in Ab..He had to transpose on the fly depending on how much the song was modulating each time (I don't know why bands like to modulate so much!)
Anyway, looking at it from the perspective of Db/C#:
Major/ Min. Key Transpose values # System wise of key you're inDb/ C# -24 ; -12 ;
0 ; +12 ; +24 Whichever key you are playing in.
D -23 ; -11 ;
+1 ; +13 value for key a 1/2 step above
[#1]Eb/ D# -22 ; -10 ;
+2 ; +14 value if song is in the
2 of key U'r playing in.
E/ Fb -21 ;
-9 ;
+3 ; +15 if song is in
#2/ b3 of key U're in.
F -20 ;
-8 ;
+4 ; +16 if song is in
3 of key U're in.
Gb/ F# -19 ;
-7 ;
+5 ; +17 if song is in
4 of key U're in.
G -18 ;
-6 ;
+6 ; +18 if song is in
#4/ b5 of key U're in.
Ab/ G# -17 ;
-5 ;
+7 ; +19 if song is in
5 of key U're in.
A/ Bbb -16 ;
-4 ;
+8 ; +20 if song is in
#5/ b6 of key U're in.
Bb/ A# -15 ;
-3 ;
+9 ; +21 if song is in
6 of key U're in.
B/ Cb -14 ;
-2 ; +10 ; +22 if song is in
#6/ b7 of key U're in.
C -13 ;
-1 ; +11 ; +23 if song is in
7 of key U're in.
Understanding this table:- This table can be used to transpose to any key the song is in relative to the key you are playing with.
- The 1st table shows transpose values to be used specifically when one is playing in the key of Db/ C# major or minor.
For instance, say someone started Anthem Of Praise in the key of A but you can only play it in Db/ C#, then you transpose by either : -4; +8; -16 or +20...
- Note that I have highlighted the transpose values with 1 digit numbers because it makes for quicker transposition...
- Each value of the transposition will sound higher or lower pitched (at the same frequency level). As a result, you might be required to go up or down the registered on the keyboard as dictacted by the pitch.
So, from the above table, we can see that column 1 is only usable if you are playing in Db/C# major or minor.
- The middle column is the column that is the crux of it all.
- If you are playing in any other key, then you use colums 2 & 3:
Say you are in the key of Eb and the singer starts a song in...B
(we know that B/ Cb is the #5/ b6 note in the key of Eb major) hence your options are to transpose by -4; +8; -16 or by +20..
I hope this makes sense.
ps:
The only reason I compiled this table is because time & time again, when I play backup with some players,
I look at their hands only to find that they have transposed
, so now I just ask, "what's the transpose value, then I just know what key to play in...in effect, I use this system backwards.
I also find it to be useful when playing with people who don't understand the 1/2 step principle/ don't know all their keys in a band setup because you just shout, "+5" or "-7"...
I'm also aware that this table might seem useless to some people that transpose by just holding down their root note & hitting the "+" or "-" button until they get the right key.
Personally, I think that can be disturbing (especially if the singer is a nervous guy like me,
, they can be distracted by the "wrong key" & change keys easily).
