Piano Forum

Piano Board => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: keyofc on May 01, 2012, 05:04:07 AM

Title: transposing piano music to eb saxophone
Post by: keyofc on May 01, 2012, 05:04:07 AM

Hello,

It's been long time since I needed to do this -
and thought it would be easy - but can't remember how to transpose
a piece of music for one of the saxophone players that will be playing
with us.

I thought you went down a minor 3rd.  My piece is in G - if I go down a minor 3rd
I'm at e (relative minor).  It doesn't make sense - how can it turn into a minor tune?
I know I'm missing something here - anyone know how to do this?
thanks

Title: Re: transposing piano music to eb saxophone
Post by: keyboardclass on May 01, 2012, 05:28:48 AM

It's called an Eb sax because when you play a C it comes out as concert Eb.  If you want a G the sax plays an E.

Title: Re: transposing piano music to eb saxophone
Post by: quantum on May 01, 2012, 08:17:04 AM

You transpose down a minor 3rd.  The the pitch G is transposed to E.  Remember you also have to change key signature: so G major is transposed to E major and G minor is transposed to E minor. 

It seems you are transposing letter names without changing the key.  In such case you would still be using the pitch classes from the G major scale resulting in E Aeolian. 

Title: Re: transposing piano music to eb saxophone
Post by: ahinton on May 01, 2012, 08:36:48 AM

Whether the transposition is up or down depends on which E flat saxophone you're talking about. All saxes are pitched in either B flat or E flat; those pitched in B flat are the soprano, tenor and bass and those pitched in E flat are the (rare) sopranino, alto, baritone and contrabass.

Best,

Alistair

Title: Re: transposing piano music to eb saxophone
Post by: oxy60 on May 01, 2012, 03:46:25 PM

Quote from: ahinton on May 01, 2012, 08:36:48 AM

Whether the transposition is up or down depends on which E flat saxophone you're talking about. All saxes are pitched in either B flat or E flat; those pitched in B flat are the soprano, tenor and bass and those pitched in E flat are the (rare) sopranino, alto, baritone and contrabass.

Best,

Alistair

Exactly! The one thing you want to avoid is being a sax player in a guitar band.  Guitar players like sharp keys because it gives them open strings to not finger. The one sharp key G major results (add two sharps for the Bb two flats tenor sax) in a three sharp key of A for my tenor man. Rule of thumb: add one sharp for every flat.

Now you see why the D trumpet was invented.

Title: Re: transposing piano music to eb saxophone
Post by: keyofc on May 01, 2012, 08:47:43 PM

Quantum,

THanks for your reply.  THat makes sense!

Thanks everyone for your comments!