Chord-Interval, Direct-Familiarization, Musical Instrument Digital Interface, Circle of Fifths, and Functions as Basic Piano Accompaniment Transposition Techniques

Abstract

This research article aimed to examine and describe different research-based practical and transmedia transposition techniques as basic transposition methods for piano accompaniment. The need for transposition in music, particularly in piano accompaniment, whether in a single line melody, a scale, or an entire composition, is to provide the constituents in the music industry like musicians, pianists, singers, composers, and arrangers with ease and comfortable playing or singing performance using both traditional and/or technological (transmedia) transposition techniques. The most practical way of reading a music sheet is the combination of a lead sheet which composed of the melody and its respective chord/s for each measure or within the measures. Sometimes, song compositions such as folk songs and other traditional songs are just written in a single staff with its defined lyrics. The concern in this matter is the chord that would be used in accompanying the song. In making an accompaniment for this type of music, we could use the three basic types of harmonic progressions in a downward or upward manner by seconds, thirds, and fourths. After learning the basics of chord progressions, the five identified research-based techniques might be used for the process of transposition by church clavinovist and piano enthusiast namely Chord and Interval Transposition Technique, Familiarization and Direct Transposition Technique, Musical Instrument Digital Interface Transposition Technique, Circle of Fifths Transposition Technique, and Functions Transposition Technique.