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 How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: paker 
Date:   2012-06-17 17:01

A novice question.
Since my C plays Bb, in order to play with other instruments, I will either have to transpose on the fly or have my own sheet. The latter is not realistic. Can I train myself to transpose on the fly in a few weeks? or Months? Thanks.

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2012-06-17 17:08

What is it that makes it unrealistic to have your own sheet?
Maybe you tell us a bit more about the group you're playing with.

--
Ben

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: rmk54 
Date:   2012-06-17 17:17

It should only take a few weeks.

I routinely teach students as young as 13 to transpose by sight. Not a big deal.

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: paker 
Date:   2012-06-17 18:43

tictactux,
Church chorus, piano accompaniment. No one sells a hymn book transposed for clarinet.

rmk54,
Thanks for the encouragement. I will start training my brain to read C as D (or play D for C?). I am not sure which will click better if there is a difference. I will report back in a month.

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2012-06-17 19:55

The Hymn book is a fantastic idea.

Sometimes orchestras, ballets, and opera's often need to be transposed so go for learning to transpose. I had to play one piece in D. That was hard for me. It makes life a lot easier. At first it may be a bit tricky so give it time. One of the hardest pieces to transpose and learn was Beethoven's 9th. It seems that every note has a shape in it! At the moment I don't recall the key. Perhaps C#?

Theres other instruments in which you have to read several clef's, alto, bass, so forth.

The hymn book idea is great.


Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces


Yamaha Artist 2015




Post Edited (2012-06-17 19:58)

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: paker 
Date:   2012-06-17 20:01

Thanks, Bob, for another encouragement. If there is a person who can transpose Beethoven 9 by sight, I should be able to handle hymns (I am talking to myself).
Rupert



Post Edited (2012-06-17 20:30)

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2012-06-17 23:22

I agree that you should learn to transpose as early as possible, and a hymn book is the perfect place to start.

However, there are plenty of hymn books transposed for Bb instruments. See https://www.google.com/search?q=hymn+book+for+Bb&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=hymn+book+for+Bb&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Kak&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=hGXeT6CMNafT6gGw8NTjCw&ved=0CBcQsxg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=7714a9a1c3102f56&biw=1686&bih=880.

Find the publisher's name in the hymn book you use, go to their site and look for transposed versions.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: davyd 
Date:   2012-06-18 00:10

Another option, though it's a lot more expensive, is to get a C clarinet. If reading from hymnals is what you primarily do, a C instrument would be a good investment if you can find a good one.

The scherzo of Beethoven's 9th (which calls for C clarinets) is partly in D minor and partly in D major, though if you're grappling with adding two sharps when there are already two sharps, it may seem like there are seven of them.

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: John Peacock 
Date:   2012-06-18 18:57

Transposing up a tone can be grasped at a basic level quite fast: just look at the upper edge of each note, rather in the middle of it. Normally each printed note-head is the width of the gap between two lines, so the top of the note is in the right place for the note you need. Then you need to add the key signature: not too hard to remember a couple of extra sharps, as long as there aren't too many to start with.

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: paker 
Date:   2012-06-19 02:52

Thanks for more advice. I will remember "top of the note." In the meantime I will keep my eyes open for a C clarinet. If I sell all my B flats, I may be able to buy one C.

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: Pastor Rob 
Date:   2013-02-21 03:43

Paker, Just curious how you progressed with transposing on the fly? I've been working on it for a while, but I do have orchestrated hymnals so I seldom need to transpose. I would also like a C clarinet someday.

Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)

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 Re: How to handle C/Bb difference?
Author: Veldeb 
Date:   2013-02-21 21:30

I used to play in church all the time and learned to transpose by sight. some hymn companies do indeed make Bb books - GIA publications (that produce a lot of Catholic hymnals - Gather, Worship3 etc) No one has fully addressed your other question: Go up one step and add 2 sharps to the key signature or subtract 2 flats.... so if you see a written C you play D as you said.. but if the Key is C major - you need to also add 2 sharps so play in the key of D maj. My teacher did an easy exercise with me every week. I would play one piece or etude and then the following week have to play it C. I already would "know" the piece which made it easier to not have to think about the transposition. He tried to teach how to transpose by sight into A - but I bought an A clarinet instead :-) Good luck! You won't regret having mastered that skill if you regularly play in churches or other groups that tell you "you play in Bb - we can't use you"

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