[mattz196]

Not really a guitar question so I hope its OK to post here.
My Son is learning is Clarinet (B♭) and after much looking it's not easy to find even public domain beginner scores for him on the net .
I thought I may be able to transpose some simple guitar melodies , would I transpose a score written for guitar down a tone ?
Thanks in advance
Matt

[knight46]

Matt,
I think I read somewhere that the guitar was considered to be tuned to the key of "C". Gosh can't remember if I read that or heard it in a dream one night. If you go to this link...Guitar Tabs, Guitar Chords and Lyrics - Chordie you can find popular songs and transpose them to any key.
Hope that was right about the Key thing...

[Fretsource]

Originally Posted by mattz196

Not really a guitar question so I hope its OK to post here.
My Son is learning is Clarinet (B♭) and after much looking it's not easy to find even public domain beginner scores for him on the net .
I thought I may be able to transpose some simple guitar melodies , would I transpose a score written for guitar down a tone ?
Thanks in advance
Matt

Hi Matt
If he's playing alone, you don't need to transpose anything. If he plays a simple melody in C, for example, the clarinet will automatically transpose it down to Bb - but no-one will be any the wiser. It will be exactly the same tune - just in a different key.

But if you want to play guitar along with him, then you have to do either of two things.

1. He plays what he sees on the sheet and YOU transpose your guitar part down one whole tone (whole step) to match his notes.
OR
2. You play your guitar part as normal but you re-write his part UP a whole tone.

The second option is what's done in orchestras. If the orchestra is playing a piece in C, the 'clarinet in Bb' part has to be written in D, so that it will sound the same as the rest of the orchestra.

It's difficult to find public domain clarinet scores on the net because unlike guitar tabs, that anyone can upload, clarinet parts are written in notation which is a lot more specialised and usually done by professionals - who want paid.

But there are free orchestral scores HERE - some with real clarinet parts.

[scotty_b]

Hey Matt
Any melodies in mind? I could do that for you on a few things if you know what you are after. I play alto sax as well, and so have to transpose to Eb (wish I played tenor and only had to go up a tone!).
I use a programme called Sibelius for all my notation, and so it can transpose very easily in there once I enter a melody in.

[mattz196]

Thank you Knight for link.

Fret thank you clearing up the tranpose question, At this point I don't intend to play with him so that should make finding suitable tunes for very him fairly simple .

Scotty thats a very generous offer, I can't say I really know what I was after for him , he is only 10 and has been playing about 5 months and is really enjoying it , he has just slipped past that true
beginner phase. He learns at school in a group sessions and the exercises they tend to use are a little bland (me saying that not him). I did find for him "When the Saints " which he thought was great , if your able to suggest any tunes that you think would be "fun" in that vein that would be appreciated .

Would you suggest that as a beginner It would be best to give him guitar peices in C, I don't think they ventured past naturals yet.?

Once again thank you to all for the assistance

[scotty_b]

I think Beatles tunes work well. McCartney has such a gift for writing incredible melodies.
Some TV themes can be great too, though some can be pretty tricky.
I have some Beatles tunes at home for trumpet (also a Bb instrument), so I could get you some of those.

[mattz196]

I'm sure he would love to be able to play the Simpsons theme !
Scotty if its not to much trouble that would fantastic when you have a chance to get a couple of simple Beatles tunes .I'll pm my email address.

[AX7221]

I would give the blues a shot, if you use A#, D# and F for you I, IV, V then if he sticks to the notes: A, C, D, D#, E, G it should work out well. However it did hurt to type in those chords, but there are other ways of doing it.