Download Hymn Reading 101

Hymn Reading 101
The soprano part is the top line of music on the treble clef stave.
The alto part is the bottom line of music on the treble clef stave.
The tenor part is the top line of music on the bass clef stave.
The bass part is the bottom line of music on the bass clef stave.
Basics of Transposition
Hymns are written so that all the accompaniment music can be performed on one
instrument, like piano or organ. Since we are using the same sheet of music to perform a
piece as a full concert band, transposition has to occur.
Transposition: The changing of a composition from one key to another.
C Instruments include flute, oboe, guitar, trombone, and mallets. They will read their
parts as is with very little, if any, transposition.
Soprano part up an octave:
Soprano part as is:
Alto part up an octave:
Alto part as is:
Tenor part as is:
Flutes
Oboes, Guitars, Mallets
Flutes
Oboes, Guitars, Mallets
Trombones
Bb Instruments include clarinet, tenor saxophone, and trumpet. They need to transpose
their part up one full step (or a Major 2nd) in order to play in the right key. For instance,
in “God Father, Praise and Glory”, the soprano part starts on a “D”. Bb instruments
would then play an “E” instead of a “D”, since they would have to read the part up one
full step. The key signature would also change. For the hymn example, which is in the
key of G Major (Concert Pitch) and has one sharp, Bb instruments would then play in the
next key up, which would be A Major with 3 sharps in the key signature.
Soprano part up one step:
Alto part up one step:
Clarinets, Trumpets
Clarinets, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpets
Eb Instruments include alto saxophones only. They need to transpose their part from the
bass clef line of music by reading the notes as is and playing down an octave with a
different key signature. To figure out the key signature, Eb instruments always transpose
down a Minor 3rd . If the hymn example is in G Major, the alto saxophones would be in
E Major, which has 4 sharps. The first 5 notes of the example would be E, G#, F#, E, D#
for alto saxophone.
Tenor part down an octave
And adding sharps or flats
To match new key signature: Alto Saxophone
F Instruments include French Horn only. They need to transpose their part from the bass
clef line of music by taking the tenor line, changing it to treble clef notes, and reading the
part down a full step (or Major 2nd). The key signature change would be a Perfect 5th up
for the key. In the hymn example, which is in G Major, a P5 up is the key of D Major,
which would add 1 sharp to the key signature for French Horn. The first 5 notes of the
example would be D, F#, E, D, C# for French Horn.
Tenor part down one step
And adding sharps or flats
To match new key signature: French Horn