Ableton Forum

hey guys, is there any sort of a guide on how to use transpose properly to keep samples in the same key?

for example: if i have a synth sample i want to transpose it so that i have that synth sound for all the notes in the octave, and if i know what key the song is in, is there a guide for transposing within that key?

i can usually get the first few notes above and below the original sample in the same key, but after i get to the 2nd 3rd and 4th notes i have a hard time and can't really tell if it's in key or not.

thanks guys!

I made myself all presets using Live's Scales and Chord plugins with the help of this web tool: http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/ so whatever notes I'm playing they'll be in the right key/scale.

learn some basic music theory, like the major scale.

0 steps = same note
2 steps = 2nd
4 steps = 3rd
5 steps = 4th
7 steps = 5th (this is good to transpose to, called a Perfect 5th, google that term.)
9 steps = 6th
11 steps = 7th
12 steps = the same note, an octave higher. same for 24, 38, 48 etc steps.

going down it's
-1 = 7th
-3 = 6th
-5 = 5th
-7 = 4th
-8 = 3rd
-10 = 2nd
-12 = same note, octave lower.

don't worry about what the numbers represent for now.

for minor, just pretend you're starting on the 6th note. to help remember this pattern look at your music keyboard. find the note C and use it as a template. the C major scale is the only major scale with all white keys.


hth, not the best explanation, it's a big topic. ultimately, trust your ears.

Tone Deft wrote:learn some basic music theory, like the major scale.

Why should he, professor Tone Deft?
There's neat little spreadsheets that have them written down and the Scale and Chord plugins can take care of the rest!

you're kicked out of class.

get out.



I'd rather be the guy that writes the spreadsheet than the sheep that can only read it.

like I wrote, you can learn a lot by looking at a piano keyboard. I see scale patterns and chord spellings. find C on the keyboard, then count the steps to the other white keys, those are the intervals he's looking for. want minor? start on the note A.

I've made spreadsheets and the like for learning theory, I wrote them by hand over and over and over to learn some basic theory, now I don't need them.

Just tell people you compose chromatically.

call it jazz and be done with it.

Tone Deft wrote: I'd rather be the guy that writes the spreadsheet than the sheep that can only read it.

I'm sure you would, like the natural leader that you are

Tone Deft wrote: I've made spreadsheets and the like for learning theory, I wrote them by hand over and over and over to learn some basic theory, now I don't need them.

Good for you Sir!, good for you!
But why stop there? Why not learn to read and write music fluently as well? Get a degree, perhaps a PHD in psychoacoustics followed by a year in Mongolia to further your knowledge of oriental chromatic tones!
All things which will surely prove invaluable when producing glitched out tech stuff and wotnot on your return!