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In playing organ/piano/keyboard, many people have difficulty
in transposing, although they play quite well in C key (1 = C).
Organists/pianists/keyboardists should be able to do fast
transposing.
The reader is assumed to be able to play well in C key. After
reading this article, I hope that the reader can do transposing
fast and easily.
I focuse this article to organ only, although this rule can be
applied to piano.
Introduction
In organ, there are three important parts :
a. melody (usually played with right hand on
upper keys)
b. chord (usually played with left hand on lower
keys)
c. bass (played with left foot).
Melody
On piano/organ, notes and keys are :
On C key, notes and keys are :
On G key, notes and keys are :
On D key, notes and keys are :
Try to practice on A, E, B, F# = Gb, C# = Db, F, Bb = A#, Eb = D#, Ab = G# keys.
Chord
If we press two or more keys simultaneously to create harmonic
sound, this is called chord.
Basic chords on C key are :
Table 1
| chord name | keys | interval to note I | interval to note II | interval to note III |
| C |  |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dm |  |
1 | 1/2 | 1 |
| Em |  |
-1/2 | 0 | 0 |
| F |  |
0 | 1/2 | 1 |
| G |  |
-1/2 | -1 | 0 |
| Am |  |
0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bdim |  |
-1/2 | -1 | -1 |
note I = do = C
note II = mi = E
note III = sol = G.
This table can be applied to other keys. On G key :
Table 2
| chord name | keys | interval to note I | interval to note II | interval to note III |
| G |  |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Am |  |
1 | 1/2 | 1 |
| Bm |  |
-1/2 | 0 | 0 |
| C |  |
0 | 1/2 | 1 |
| D |  |
-1/2 | -1 | 0 |
| Em |  |
0 | 0 | 1 |
| F#dim |  |
-1/2 | -1 | -1 |
note I = do = G
note II = mi = B
note III = sol = D.
On D key :
Table 3
| chord name | keys | interval to note I | interval to note II | interval to note III |
| D |  |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Em |  |
1 | 1/2 | 1 |
| F#m |  |
-1/2 | 0 | 0 |
| G |  |
0 | 1/2 | 1 |
| A |  |
-1/2 | -1 | 0 |
| Bm |  |
0 | 0 | 1 |
| C#dim |  |
-1/2 | -1 | -1 |
note I = do = D
note II = mi = F#
note III = sol = A.
If there are sequence of chords on C key : C-F-G, so that on G key, it'll be : G-C-D and on D key : D-G-A. But to play it on the organ/piano, you just remember the formula in the shaded cells in table 1, 2, 3. [See figure 1]
Figure 1
| C key | G key | D key |
C |
G |
D |
F |
C |
G |
G |
D |
A |
Note to fig. 1 :
numbers under the keys represent the fingers :
1 = little finger, 2 = ring finger, 3 = middle finger, 4 = point
finger, 5 = thumb.
Try to practice on A, E, B, F# = Gb, C# = Db, F, Bb = A#, Eb = D#, Ab = G# keys.
Bass
Bass is played according to the chord. If the chord contains C
(C, Cm, C7, Cdim, Csus4,...), the bass is played on C. If the
chord contains G (G, Gm, G7, Gdim, Gsus4,...), the bass is played
on G, and so forth.
Improvisation on bass is important, since it can create different
atmosphere. Try to play chord C on G (C chord
with G bass) or F on C (F chord with C bass).
Conclusion
By mastering this transposition technique, you'll be more confident in playing organ/piano. Good luck.
Jakarta, June 29, 1999