transpose

Transposition shifts every note in a piece by the same interval, moving the entire composition into a new key while preserving all the melodic and harmonic relationships. A song in C major transposed up a perfect fifth becomes a song in G major — every note moves up by the same amount. Transposition is a daily practical skill for many musicians. Accompanists transpose songs to match a singer's range. Horn and trumpet players read music written in one key and mentally transpose it to match their instrument's tubing. Jazz musicians transpose standards into different keys routinely. The ability to transpose at sight — reading in one key and playing in another simultaneously — is one of the most demanding skills in practical musicianship.