Notes in each key / mode
| Key / Mode | Ionian (Major) | Dorian | Phrygian | Lydian | Mixolydian | Aeolian (Minor) | Locrian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C D E F G A B | C D E♭ F G A B♭ | C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ | C D E F# G A B | C D E F G A B♭ | C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ | C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ |
| C# | C# D# E# F# G# A# B# | C# D# E F# G# A# B | C# D# E F# G# A B | C# D# E# F## G# A# B# | C# D# E# F# G# A B | C# D# E F# G# A B | C# D# E F# G# A B |
| D | D E F# G A B C# | D E F G A B C | D E F G A B♭ C | D E F# G# A B C# | D E F# G A B C | D E F G A B♭ C | D E F G A B♭ C |
| D# | D# F G A B C D | D# F G A B C D# | D# F G A B C D | D# F# G# A# B C D# | D# F G A B C D | D# F G A B C D | D# F G A B C D |
| E | E F# G# A B C# D# | E F# G A B C# D | E F# G A B C D | E F# G# A# B C# D# | E F# G# A B C# D | E F# G A B C D | E F# G A B C D |
| F | F G A B♭ C D E | F G A B♭ C D E♭ | F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ | F G A B C D E | F G A B♭ C D E♭ | F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ | F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ |
| F# | F# G# A# B C# D# E# | F# G# A B C# D# E | F# G# A B C# D E | F# G# A# B C# D# E# | F# G# A B C# D E | F# G# A B C# D E | F# G# A B C# D E |
| G | G A B C D E F# | G A B C D E F | G A B♭ C D E F | G A B C# D E F# | G A B C D E F | G A B♭ C D E F | G A B♭ C D E F |
| G# | G# A# B# C# D# E# F## | G# A# B C# D# E# F# | G# A# B C# D# E F# | G# A# B# C## D# E# F## | G# A# B# C# D# E F# | G# A# B C# D# E F# | G# A# B C# D# E F# |
| A | A B C# D E F# G# | A B C D E F# G | A B C D E F G | A B C# D# E F# G# | A B C# D E F# G | A B C D E F G | A B C D E F G |
| A# | A# B# C## D# E# F## G## | A# B# C# D# E# F## G# | A# B# C# D# E# F G# | A# B# C## D## E# F## G## | A# B# C## D# E# F G# | A# B# C# D# E# F G# | A# B# C# D# E# F G# |
| B | B C# D# E F# G# A# | B C# D E F# G# A | B C# D E F# G A | B C# D# E F# G# A# | B C# D# E F# G A | B C# D E F# G A | B C# D E F# G A |
How to Use the Key Transposer to Change Key of Music
The key transposer allows you to easily transpose musical scales from one key and mode to another. Follow these instructions to use the key transposer:
Step 1: Select the Original Key
In the Original Key dropdown menu, select the key of the scale you want to transpose. This is the key from which the transposition will start.
Example: If you have a scale in C major, select “C”.
Step 2: Choose the Original Mode
Next, in the Original Mode dropdown menu, select the mode of the scale you’re transposing.
Example: If your scale is in Ionian (Major) mode, select “Ionian (Major)”.
Step 3: Select the Desired Key for Transposition
In the Desired Key dropdown menu, select the key you want the scale to be transposed into.
Example: If you want to transpose the scale to D major, select “D”.
Step 4: Choose the Desired Mode
Finally, in the Desired Mode dropdown menu, select the mode you want to transpose the scale into.
Example: If you want to transpose to Dorian mode, select “Dorian”.
Step 5: Click the “Transpose” Button
Once all the options are set, click the Transpose button to change key.
The Key Transposer will how the notes in the scale change based on your selections.
Step 6: Review the Results
The results will be displayed, showing a list of notes that either remain the same or change during the transposition.
If there are any differences, the notes will be marked as “changed” with the original note and the transposed note for easy comparison.
If all the notes remain the same, the Key Transposer will indicate that “All notes remain the same.”
Benefits of the Key Transposer to Change Key of Music
The key transposer offers several advantages for musicians, helping them improve their musical skills, understanding, and creativity. Here are the key benefits:
1. Easily Change Key or Mode
- Flexibility: The Key Transposer allows musicians to quickly transpose scales and modes from one key to another, enabling them to work in any key without needing to manually rewrite notes or memorize new scales.
- Musical Exploration: Musicians can experiment with different keys and modes to find new sounds and perspectives on their music. This can inspire creativity and lead to fresh musical ideas.
2. Better Understanding of Scales and Modes
- Visualizing Scale Relationships: Transposing scales helps musicians understand how different modes relate to each other. For example, transposing from Ionian (Major) to Dorian or Phrygian helps players see the subtle differences in the structure of these scales.
- Learning Tool: By experimenting with transposition, musicians deepen their understanding of music theory, including how intervals, patterns, and key signatures function across the circle of fifths and within different modes.
3. Improved Instrumental Performance
- Easy Practice: For instrumentalists, transposing scales is a common practice, especially when playing with other musicians or in different musical contexts (e.g., different arrangements or transposing instruments). This tool simplifies the process and helps improve proficiency.
- Playing with Other Musicians: Transposing allows musicians to quickly adjust their parts when playing in a group, especially when others are playing in different keys. It ensures that all musicians are in sync and performing together.
4. Music Composition and Arrangement
- Customizing Music: Composers and arrangers can easily experiment with different keys and modes to match the emotional tone or technical requirements of their pieces. For example, transposing a piece from a minor key to a major key can change its mood.
- Vocal Range Adjustment: Singers can use the key transposer to adjust a song’s key to better suit their vocal range, making it easier to perform comfortably and confidently.
5. Quick Transposition to Change Key of any Song
- Time-Saving: The Key Transposer speeds up the transposition process, saving musicians from the tedious task of manually shifting notes. This is especially helpful when working on multiple arrangements or improvisations.
- Accessibility: Both beginners and advanced musicians benefit from the key transposer. Beginners can learn to recognize the patterns and structures in different scales, while advanced musicians can use it to quickly explore complex transpositions.
6. Supporting Improvisation
- Scale Practice: For improvisation, understanding scales in different keys and modes is essential. This Key Transposer helps musicians practice improvisation in various contexts, giving them more freedom to experiment with melodic ideas and harmonic progressions.
- Quick Access to Different Sounds: Improvisers can experiment with modal shifts and key changes on the fly, expanding their musical vocabulary and enhancing their performance.
How the Key Transposer Works to Change Key of Music
The key transposer allows musicians to easily shift scales from one key and mode to another, which is helpful when composing, performing, or practicing music. Here’s how it works, step by step:
1. Understanding the Notes and Intervals
The Key Transposer starts by using a set of 12 notes in the chromatic scale (C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B).
Each scale or mode (like Major, Minor, Dorian, etc.) has its own pattern of intervals (the distance between notes), which are made up of whole steps (two notes apart) and half steps (one note apart). The Key Transposer uses these intervals to build scales.
2. Generating a Scale
When you select a key (the starting note) and a mode (like Ionian, Dorian, etc.), the Key Transposer calculates the scale for that key and mode.
For example:
- If you choose C as the key and Ionian (Major) as the mode, the Key Transposer knows the Ionian scale follows the pattern of intervals: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half. The Key Transposer then generates the scale starting from C.
3. Transposing the Scale
When you choose a new key and mode, the Key Transposer will shift the original scale to the new key, keeping the same intervals. For instance:
- If you started with C Ionian and want to transpose it to D Ionian, the Key Transposer adjusts each note up by the right amount (in this case, moving each note a whole step higher).
4. Displaying the Results
After transposing, the Key Transposer shows you both the original and transposed scales side by side. It will indicate any changes in the notes between the two scales (like C changing to D#), and which notes stay the same.
This makes it easy for musicians to compare and see how shifting keys or modes affects the notes in a scale.
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Change Key FAQ
What are modes in music?
Modes are variations of scales that start from different root notes but use the same set of pitches. Each mode has a unique sound and emotional character. For example, the Ionian mode is the major scale, and the Aeolian mode is the natural minor scale.
What does it mean to change the key of a song?
Changing the key of a song involves transposing all the notes in the song up or down by the same interval, resulting in a new tonal center. For example, shifting a song from C major to G major raises all the notes by a perfect fifth.
Why would someone want to change the key of a song?
There are several reasons to change a song’s key:
To suit a singer’s vocal range.
To create a different emotional feel.
To adapt the song for a specific instrument.
To make a song easier or more comfortable to play.
How do I figure out the new notes when changing keys?
You can use a music theory tool called a key signature or scale degrees:
Identify the interval between the original and new keys (e.g., up a whole step, down a minor third).
Shift every note in the song by that same interval.
Alternatively, use a transpose chart or music software to assist with this.
How does changing key affect chords?
When transposing a song, each chord also shifts by the same interval. For example, in C major, the chords C, F, and G become G, C, and D if transposed to G major. Ensure you maintain the same chord qualities (major, minor, diminished, etc.) in the new key.