This is the first in a series I have wanted to write for a while called “Theoretically Speaking.” Each article will deal with some aspect of music theory as it pertains to leading worship and working with worship teams. If you have a theory question please send it in and If I can answer it I will do so. If not I’ll try to find the answer.
#1- Transposing
Transposing means taking a song that is in one key and playing it in a different key. In a worship setting I run across this in two main ways. First it may be that a song is too high or too low to sing. The second instance is when I am playing guitar and a song is written in a key like B but I want to play it using the chords I usually use in G. This is a fairly easy process.
First of all determine the key of the song you want to transpose. We’ll take trading my sorrows for instance which is normally played in the key of A. Write down each of the scale tones in the key. So
A B C# D E F# G# A
Then number those tones 1-7
A B C# D E F# G#
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Now write the new key you want to transpose to underneath
A B C# D E F# G#
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
G A B C D E F#
Now your original chords which are on top, and replace them with the chords in the new key under the numbers.
Here is an example.
Original Key
A D F#m E
I’m trading my sorrows
With the numbers
1 4 6m 5
I’m trading my sorrows
And in the new key
G C Em D
I’m trading my sorrows
You can use this to change any song in any key to another key.
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