How to use ABC

[Zeteein]

I feel like the answer to this question is already on this site somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it. I'd like to know how the ABC notation system works, and how to convert Constant Billy, which is in the Bertram Levy tutor and has been entered into Tune-o-matic, from C to other keys. I'm just looking to learn to play it in other keys but I'm fairly new to all this musical notation and though I can read it in C ok, I have no idea how to transcribe it to, say, D. I'm just looking to become more comfortable playing in keys which are not C, and I figure if I start with a song I already know in C, that it will be easier.

 

Thanks!

[Leo]

I feel like the answer to this question is already on this site somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it. I'd like to know how the ABC notation system works, and how to convert Constant Billy, which is in the Bertram Levy tutor and has been entered into Tune-o-matic, from C to other keys. I'm just looking to learn to play it in other keys but I'm fairly new to all this musical notation and though I can read it in C ok, I have no idea how to transcribe it to, say, D. I'm just looking to become more comfortable playing in keys which are not C, and I figure if I start with a song I already know in C, that it will be easier.

 

Thanks!

Hi Zeteein

 

This one works pretty good:

http://www.folkinfo.org/songs/abcconvert.php

 

Thanks

Leo

[Brian McGee]

I feel like the answer to this question is already on this site somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it. I'd like to know how the ABC notation system works, and how to convert Constant Billy, which is in the Bertram Levy tutor and has been entered into Tune-o-matic, from C to other keys. I'm just looking to learn to play it in other keys but I'm fairly new to all this musical notation and though I can read it in C ok, I have no idea how to transcribe it to, say, D. I'm just looking to become more comfortable playing in keys which are not C, and I figure if I start with a song I already know in C, that it will be easier.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Zeetin,

 

The question of moving it from one key to another (called transposing) isn't trivial. Here's a link to a 10-cent overview:

 

http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2095-how-to-transpose-music.html

[Zeteein]

thanks! That really helps

[Steve Mansfield]

As regards how the abc notation system works, may I respectfully direct you towards my online abc tutorial, starting at http://www.lesession.co.uk/abc - ten years old now, and still getting loads of usage a day ...

 

As regards the specific issue of transposing an existing file, the aforementioned converter at FolkInfo works well.

[hjcjones]

I would fully endorse Steve's tutorial: very clear and concise, and well laid-out for reference any time you want to check on something. Thanks, Steve.

 

It's easiest to use one of the abc programs, most of which are free. I prefer ABC Explorer, but there are others equally good. With these, you can type in the abc and see it appear as notation, and easily transpose up or down by the required number of semitones - the software will do all the hard work referred to in Brian's link.

[Brian McGee]

After answering Z's question last night I started fooling around with Musescore, an open-source score editor. Turns out that it will do really sexy transposing stuff for you easily. Like transposing from the bass to the treble cleff, transposing by specified intervals (up to a full octave), and transposing into specific keys!

[Leonard]

Hi Zeteein

 

This one works pretty good:

http://www.folkinfo..../abcconvert.php

 

Thanks

Leo

 

I use Jens Wollschläger's ABC-Transposer : http://www.8ung.at/abctransposer/

[cboody]

If you are using a Mac Barfly will do the transposing for you. There's a common PC program that transposes too, but the name escapes me.

[tombilly]

If you can hum or sing a tune or piece of music, then play around with transposing it - just start on a different place on the scale of notes. That's transposing by ear - you know the tune and your brain can sort out the intervals between the notes, no matter where you start. I think, in some ways, a sign of real progress on a musical instrument is to be able to do the same on it - to trust yourself and your muscle memory to find the right notes and intervals by ear - you don't need any software other than what's in your head already. Try it on easy melodies and ones you know well.

[Zeteein]

If you can hum or sing a tune or piece of music, then play around with transposing it - just start on a different place on the scale of notes. That's transposing by ear - you know the tune and your brain can sort out the intervals between the notes, no matter where you start. I think, in some ways, a sign of real progress on a musical instrument is to be able to do the same on it - to trust yourself and your muscle memory to find the right notes and intervals by ear - you don't need any software other than what's in your head already. Try it on easy melodies and ones you know well.

 

That's true- I first worked on figuring out the first part of Constant Billy in D by transcribing it with ABC (now I know what everyone is talking about when they complain about C#!), and now I think I'll take your advice and try to change another song to D just by ear. Since I'm so new, I don't know the scales of all the keys yet, so I thought transposing one song to many keys would be a good way to start learning them. But now I'm having fun with D and so maybe I'll learn a few songs in that key before moving on to another!