Transpose song from PDF scan of sheet music
I have the musescore 3.0 (I think) .
I am not well versed in computer speak !
I have a song, in a book, that I want transposed to
a lower key . I can't find how to upload this PDF to
the application so I can click and TRANSPOSE ~ !!
Can anyone help out ??
TIA
Comments
If you have a PDF scan, open MuseScore then use menu item: File > Import PDF...
This is a free experimental service that is not 100% accurate. It depends on the complexity (or simplicity) of the score.
Also...
To find your version of MuseScore use menu item: Help > About...
In reply to If you have a PDF scan, open… by Jm6stringer
А
In reply to If you have a PDF scan, open… by Jm6stringer
Adele - Hello.pdf
In reply to [inline:Adele - Hello.pdf] by rodrigueskari
And your problem with or question about that, not answerd above, is what?
In reply to If you have a PDF scan, open… by Jm6stringer
Once Upon a December
In reply to Once Upon a December by annabelledalo1
And your problem with or question about that, not answerd above, is what?
In reply to Once Upon a December by annabelledalo1
𝄆 And your problem with or question about that, not answered above, is what? 𝄇
In reply to If you have a PDF scan, open… by Jm6stringer
transpose it for a alto sax in E flat
In reply to transpose it for a alto sax… by sebium811
Fer cryin' out loud! It's only 13 measures. This would take you about 10-15 minutes to input it manually into MuseScore. It's VERY EASY to do this yourself. Nobody here is a MuseScore elf to magically do your school work.
Create a new, blank score in MuseScore. Choose the instrument that the piece is currently in to create it: in this case, Bb Trumpet. Choose the key that it's in currently: A major.
Enter the notes exactly as they are in your .PDF. Verify them! Verify them again!!!
Now, right-click on an early measure. From the context menu that appears, click Staff/Part Properties.... On the Staff/Part Properties dialog, under Part properties, change the instrument to the one you want: in your case, an Alto Sax. This changes the key to 6 sharps: E# major??? (The A at the end transposes to an E#.) Whatever!
Go to Tools / Transpose and change it down chromatically to Eb major. Be sure to check the box to Transpose key signatures. Notice that this changes the key signature to C because Alto Saxophone is a transposing instrument. Click the Concert Pitch button at bottom, right of center, to see that the concert pitch is Eb. If you need the saxophone itself to be in Eb, then do the Transpose step above to Gb rather than Eb.
In reply to This would take you about 10… by TheHutch
Three sharps for a Bb transposing instrument = one sharp concert pitch since Musescore bases key signatures on concert pitch, This results in 4 sharps for the sax (a much more manageable key than E# major). No need to transpose as MS does it for you once you have made the instrument change.
So:
1] Create a new score for Bb trumpet, 6/8 , ONE sharp ("G major")
2] Enter the notes as per the sheet music for trumpet
3] Change the instrument to Alto sax (which is an Eb transposing instrument)
I agree with your estimate of 10-15 minutes to do this but only if you take a time-out to make an omelet. I also feel the Ms could handle the creation of key signatures better such that when you write for a transposing instrument you are given the option to use the key signature from the part for that instrument or from the conductor's score.
In reply to Three sharps for a Bb… by underquark
"Ms could handle the creation of key signatures better such that when you write for a transposing instrument you are given the option to use the key signature from the part for that instrument or from the conductor's score."
Most - but not all - conductors scores show transposing instruments as transposed. It helps during rehearsals when discussing notes with players of transposing instruments.
The options exist to enter notation at concert (sounding) pitch with the concert pitch button selected or at written (transposed) pitch with the concert pitch button not selected.
Is there some other option that you think is missing?
In reply to "Ms could handle the… by SteveBlower
"Is there some other option that you think is missing?"
Sorry, I thought my posting made it clear to those who understand transposing instruments.
For me, it's easy, as I started music when I was quite young. I played recorder, guitar, then a Bb cornet in a (British) brass band. I bought a tin whistle in F (because it was the cheapest one in the shop), had friends who played violin, recorder, piano, Eb brass instruments. At that age we just accepted the transpositional differences and managed to read, write, play without difficulty or formal coaching, just as over a billion kids worldwide speak more than one language.
For those who don't grasp transposition easily, the option to simply place the key signature as printed might be welcome.
In reply to "Is there some other option… by underquark
Don't assume...
If we are demonstrating credentials, I play amongst other things, Bb Clarinet, A clarinet, Eb Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tuba Bb treble clef and bass clef concert pitch and playing from string bass parts transposed up an octave. I often sight read and transpose on the fly to play concert pitch parts on most of those transposing instruments or play a part written at one transposition on a differently transposing instrument - clarinet in A on a Bb instrument or vice versa for example, I understand transposing instruments pretty well.
I think that your suggestion would cause more confusion than it solves. You have an orchestral score with instruments notated at various different transposed pitches - clarinet in Bb, Cor Anglais in F, Horns in G perhaps, Which transposed key signature do you choose? The simplest option is to choose the concert pitch version.
In reply to Three sharps for a Bb… by underquark
Well, you can't both "create a new score for Bb trumpet ... ONE sharp" and "enter the notes as per the sheet music". The sheet music in question (in post "sebium811 • Apr 15, 2025 - 16:39") has three sharps.
In reply to Well, you can't both "create… by TheHutch
Of course!
Assume you're putting together a score. A flute, a trumpet and an alto saxophone. You choose G major for the score.
Then the flute is in G major, the trumpet in A major and the saxophone in E major! Only when you press the concert pitch button are they all in G major.
Now you can transcribe (without pressing the concert pitch button) the notes for the trumpet and then either rename them to alto saxophone - which then becomes E major - or simply copy them and paste them into the alto saxophone.
In reply to This would take you about 10… by TheHutch
Why so complicated?
Do it exactly as underquark suggested:
1] Create a new score for Bb trumpet, 6/8 , ONE sharp ("G major")
2] Enter the notes as per the sheet music for trumpet
3] Change the instrument to Alto sax (which is an Eb transposing instrument)
You may have to transpose by an octave with Ctrl+Up or Down. That's it!