How to Transpose music from c into e flat

No matter what instrument you play, there is always the moment in time where you have to switch keys. Whether you can't sing the high notes or can't quite reach the low notes on your instrument, transposition is always the answer to stepping up to the right key signature.

Instructions

1. Know your starting point. Since your starting point is C, you want to know everything about this key signature. Specifically, this means that you know it has no flats or sharps in the main key. You will also want to notice the note intervals throughout the piece of music that are already in this key.

2. Figure out your next key. Since you are moving to the key of E flat, you will want to understand this key signature as well as the other one. You can do this by using your circle of 5ths. If you go down to the key of E flat from C, it will tell you what the key signature is.

3. The circle of fifths steps. Count back 5 from C counting C as one. This should be the key of F. This will have one flat. Count back five more from F. This will have two flats and will be the key of B flat. Count back five more from B flat. This will be E flat and will have three flats. The order of flats is always B, E, A, D, G, C, F. This means that the key of E flat will have the flat notes of B, E and A.

4. Start substituting. Once you have your key signature, you can start moving your notes to their different spaces. It's best if you use a piece of staff paper in order to get used to the process. For example, if your first note is C, it will now move into the new key of E flat. If you want to think about this theoretically, all of your notes will be three half steps up from the original key.

5. Either transpose the rest of the notes by counting up the half steps, or changing everything by intervals. For example, if the original key has a C that goes to a D, your new key will follow the same interval. That means that it will be an E flat going to an F. Both are following the same second interval spacing.

Tips & Warnings

• Having the new key signature is the best way to have a guide in order to get the right spacing throughout the song. Without it, you can easily get turned around.

• Find the way that works best for you. This may be by intervals from the original notes or by seeing the relationship from the last note. This will depend on how you see the notes you are changing.