BazzLow
ENIT
Module 5 · Lesson 7

Transposing

Move a bass line or a progression to another key.

Before this lesson: 5.6 The circle of fifths

A bass line is not tied to one key. A singer needs it higher, a song changes key, another player prefers a different one: you need to move the same music to a new tonic.

What transposing means

Transposing means playing the same music in a different key: every note moves by the same interval.

By degrees: the theory way

Write the line as scale degrees, then read those degrees in the new key. The line 1-3-5-6 is C E G A in C, G B D E in G and F A C D in F.

The line 1-3-5-6 in five keys.
Key1 – 3 – 5 – 6
CC E G A
GG B D E
FF A C D
DD F♯ A B
AA C♯ E F♯

By shape: the bass way

Play the line from its root, then move the whole shape so that the root falls on the new tonic. In standard tuning the fret shapes do not change (lesson 4.3).

Bass neck, frets 0–12The line 1-3-5-6 as one shape, played from C (fret 3 on the A string: C E G A) and from G (fret 3 on the E string: G B D E). The frets relative to the root are 0, 4, 7, 9 in both.AE23456789101112CEGAGBDE
The line 1-3-5-6 as one shape, played from C (fret 3 on the A string: C E G A) and from G (fret 3 on the E string: G B D E). The frets relative to the root are 0, 4, 7, 9 in both.

Chords transpose the same way, by Roman numerals (Module 8): I–IV–V in C is C F G, in E it is E A B.

Why transpose

A singer’s range, the comfort of another instrument, or a key change inside a song.

Try it

Take the line 1-5-6-5 in C. Write it in G, D and E♭, then play it from the right root each time.

New terms

Tools

  • Bass Map: Arpeggios, circle of fifths, natural harmonics, modes and scales on the bass neck, in any key.
  • Key Chords: The chords of every major and minor key, chosen on the circle of fifths, with bass boxes and common progressions.