Examples
Transposition:
- The notes A-B-C-D can be transposed downwards to A♭-B♭-C♭-D♭ (the ♭, called a flat, lowers the pitch by one semitone) or upwards to D-E-F-G (the note D is a perfect fourth higher than the note A, E the same amount higher than B and so on).
- The chord C-E-G can be transposed upwards to C♯-E♯-G♯ (the ♯, called a sharp, raises the pitch by one semitone).
Inversion:
- The notes D-F-E-B can be reversed to B-E-F-D - This form of inversion is called Retrograde.
- The upward intervals can become downward intervals and vice versa - This is the form that is properly called Inversion.
- These two can be combined and the result can be transposed: these are inclusive rather than exclusive processes.
When viewing the following musical examples, it may help to imagine a mirror being placed between the various versions:
- The chord C-E-G can be inverted to E-G-C or G-C-E - This is called the Inversion of a chord.
- Two lines ("parts") of music can be "inverted" so that the original lower one is made to sound above the original higher one - this is Inversion of counterpoint and can be applied to any number of parts.
Read more about this topic: Post-tonal Music Theory
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