Transposing
Ok, So you just found the sheet music to your favorite hit song. You whip out your Uke and play, but something is wrong. It just doesn't sound, well, good. What could be wrong? Well, Maybe you need to play it in a different Key
What? that's crazy talk! chords is chords and notes is notes and if we just have another couple Martinis, it will all sound fine!
Well, while it is true that another Martini would be good about now, as far as notes is notes and chords is chords? well, kind of, but actually, not always.
Obviously, a "C" is a "C". But, a "C" chord on the Ukulele is not going to sound the same as a "C" chord on a guitar. sure, they can be played together, and will sound nice, but they will not sound the same.
But how could that be?
Well, it's like this. Different instruments are often in different tunings. some are higher, some are lower. So in order to have it sound good on the Uke, it may need to be played in a different key, and you do this by transposing
How does one transpose you ask?
An easy way is with a transposing wheel.
Yeah, sure, you say, as if those are just available for free anywhere.
But that is the good news, there is one available right here, right now, and yes, it is free. All you need to do is download it, print it, use it, (some assembly required)
oh, and say "Tiki King Rules!" whenever you are in a crowd.
So what are you waiting for? click here to get yours now!!!(opens in a new window)
This is how you can take a song written in a key that is too high or to low for your vocal range, and transpose it to suit your voice. So here is how you use this wonderful tool. It is based on what is called the circle of fifths, (see the picture below) because each successive note (going clockwise) is a fifth above the last. So what you do on the transposing disk is on the outer wheel, find the key that the song is in. Then line up the key you wish to transpose to on the inner wheel with that note. So if you're trying to transpose a song in the key of G to the key of C, the outer wheel would have the G at the top, and the inner wheel would have the C at the top just below the G. Now you simply rename all the chords in your song from whatever their root name is on the outer wheel to whatever is lined up with them on the inner wheel. You don't change the rest of the chord name (e.g. the "7", "minor", etc.). In our example, if the song in G uses G, C7 and D7 you'd now play C, F7 and G7 (print it out and try it, you'll see!).
Rock and roll!
Circle of fifths
Here is what the Circle of fifths looks like...
The circle of fifths can be used for many things. To help with chord progressions, to determine the Key that a song is in, to determine the scale for that Key.
The "circle of fifths" is a term coined by German musician Johann David Heinichen in 1728, and is basically a chart showing all 12 pitches which are arranged in such a way that as you go clockwise, you go up a fifth. However, due to the nature of how scales work, when you go counter clockwise you go down a fourth. For example, the fifth note of the G major scale (G A B C D E F#) is D (going clockwise) but the G is the fourth note in the key of D (D E F# G A B C#)
So, if you pick a key, Say "C" for example, That is your I Chord. The adjacent chord counter-clockwise (left) is the IVchord. The chord clockwise (right) is the V chord. So, in the key of C major, C is the IChord, F is the IVchord, and G is the V chord.
It has been said that nearly half the western worlds songs are based on the I, IV ,V progression.
So there you go...
Thanks Uke Jackson , and Howlin' Hobbit for all your help!
Chord Charts
Looking for chord charts to brighten up your playing corner? Here you go...
Chart 1. Major, Minor and Dominant 7th
Chart 2. Dominant 9th, Minor 7th, and Major 6th
Chart 3. Minor 6th, Major 7th, and Dominant 7th with raised 5th
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