- “Call Me Irresponsible” (S. Cahn, J. Van Heusen)
Transposition: Using a Key Signature
In Module 6, we transposed a melody by shifting all pitches the same distance higher or lower using the
corresponding scale number or solfège symbol of the original scale and the transposed scale. We may also
transpose a melody by shifting all pitches the same distance higher or lower and applying the key signature of
the new scale.
Exercise 10—Class Exercise
The melody “What a Wonderful World” was originally composed in F major. It begins on the dominant (fifth
note of the scale) and ends on the tonic (first note of the scale). Below the original written in F major, notate the
transposed melody in A major and then Bbmajor.
- Begin by drawing the A major and Bbmajor scales using a key signature.
- Circle the tonic and dominant notes of each scale. (The F major scale is done for you.)
- Transpose “What a Wonderful World” from F major to both A major and Bbmajor. First, draw the key
signature and time signature after the treble clef. Begin on the dominant pitches of each respective scale;
end on the tonic notes. The first three notes in A major are done for you. - Sing the original and transposed melodies. Do they sound “the same”?
Fmajor scaleAmajor scale Bbmajor scale
180
MODULE 7