# Transposing

*Module 5 · Lesson 7: The major scale and keys · BazzLow*

> Move a bass line or a progression to another key.

Before this lesson: [5.6 The circle of fifths](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/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.*

| Key | 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 |
| --- | --- |
| C | C E G A |
| G | G B D E |
| F | F A C D |
| D | D F♯ A B |
| A | A 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).

> **Diagram:** 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

- transposing
- transposition

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/transposing/