Key signatures

Hello everyone,

I'm having a bit of a problem with key signatures and I was wondering if someone could help.

If you're in D Minor:

the key sig. for C instruments is one flat (just Bb)

what are the key signatures for Bb, Eb, and F instruments supposed to be? I'm pretty sure it's all naturals for F instruments, just I'm not sure about Bb and Eb, would the signatures be Bb, Eb, Ab and Bb, Eb, Ab, Db respectively?

I'm just wondering because I wrote a piece where the key signatures are:

C instruments: Bb

Bb instruments: Bb, Eb, Ab

Eb instruments: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db

F instruments: all natural

The piece sounds great, it's just I was told that that's incorrect...

Thanks for your help :P

It'd be easier if you identified each key signature with its apropriate 'key'

...i.e. instead of giving us which notes are flat/sharp, just tell us what key it is.

NOW, what you've done is just transposed the wrong way.

Concert -> Bb = up major 2nd

Concert -> Eb = up major 6th

Concert -> F = up perfect 5th

SO, to clarify what we've got here:

Dmin ... FMaj (One flat: Bb)

C instruments: Key of F (1 flat)

Bb instruments: Key of G (1 sharp)

Eb instruments: Key of D (2 sharps)

F instruments: Key of C (no flats/sharps)

Bb clarinet etc. would be playing with the key signature of g major. (one sharp)

Horn in f etc would play in the key signature of c major. no sharps or flats.

Eb instruments would play in the key signature of d major. Two sharps.

See how it goes?

I thought I may have done something weird along those lines, thanks a lot for the help! :)

No problem. :)

If you want finale to do it for you, click the staff attributes button, then double click the button thing next to the staff you want to make a new transposition for.

Click the box for transposition, then click the select button. In the Key signature drop down box, it lists any transposition you could need...

If you want finale to do it for you, click the staff attributes button...

Now, why would you assume he's using Finale? Or even a computer at all?! I'd expect the problem came from hand copying...

well, he said "The piece sounds great" therefore, it's likely he was using a computer for playback. And since he's online, it's likely he has a computer. Maybe he's just unfamiliar with his software and my answer would actually help him out...

Thanks for being a dick when I offer him a shortcut...

Thanks for being a dick when I offer him a shortcut...

:P

actually, he could be using sibelius (off topic)

(on topic) while i dont write many pieces that use winds (if at all, i dont remember the last piece i wrote for winds) i use all strings, which is all very straight forward, but I've been thinking about writing my 1st sypmony, in which case this has been very helpful

(on topic) while i dont write many pieces that use winds (if at all, i dont remember the last piece i wrote for winds) i use all strings, which is all very straight forward, but I've been thinking about writing my 1st sypmony, in which case this has been very helpful

Not particularly on topic.....

And neither's this post:P.

I agree... The smart thing to do is always use a reduction, even if you have ideas about future orchrestration... It's not like it's un-orchestrateable in the future...

Seriously though, I am 3000% against sibelius

Actually I'm using Noteworthy Composer (demo version) because I can't afford Finale (which the demo version is only an um.. 30 day trial I think?). Although I would love to get a hold of it someday if I ever get enough free cash :D :).

One last question, Bass Clarinets are in Bb right?

Well it sounds like you're on the right track now. Good luck!

Well it sounds like you're on the right track now. Good luck!

Yeah, here's hoping that in the four and a half years since you first made this thread, you've managed to figure out basic transposition instruments. Good luck!

LOL. Always check the dates before you start giving advice :P

This is from 2007. The current year is 2011.