How to Transpose Piano Notes to Violin Notes

Last Updated: July 1, 2021

Want to stretch yourself musically? Ever heard a great piano piece and think, "If only I could play that on my violin?" Turn that piece into a more easily read violin piece in these simple steps.

Steps

1
Find a piece you want to transpose. If you already have one in mind, buy it from your local music store. Don't forget to stay true to your ability, as tough piano pieces will translate into tough violin music.
2
Write down the piece's basics into your composition notebook. This is the meter, tempo, key, etc.

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3
Start copying the (treble clef) notes. A quarter note is a quarter note, and a G is a G, no matter what instrument it's played on. Don't forget to retain the same measure lengths and divisions.^{[1]
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4
Divide the chords into more manageable notes. Piano are meant to be played by ten fingers that play multiple notes at once. Violins play single or double notes, so chords of 3 or more notes are played by two violins or a violin-viola duet. For chords that make your eyes cross, make two separate violin parts.^{[2]
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5
Proofread your transposing. The hardest thing about writing music is keeping consistent time/meter; it's easy to screw up and put 4 beats in a measure with 3/4 time. Although it may be a pain to fix, it'll be a bigger pain for you or someone else to play.
6
Add the stylistic tips. Some, like loudness, are easily copied from the piece. Others, like style, may or may not be present. Yet other tips that refer to string techniques will not be present. Refer to "Tips" as to how to make stylistic and technical additions.^{[3]
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7
Play your piece. It is the final proofreading. Repeat steps 5-6 if you notice any mistakes or anything that needs to added.
8
Present it to a professional. Have a private teacher or a trusted friend who plays professionally look it over. Ask for their suggestions, or perhaps to play the piece with you. Remember, mistakes are merely opportunities to improve. Don't be mad if they don't offer any praise (chances are, they will).

Community Q&A

Question

How do I turn guitar notes into violin notes?

Community Answer

They are both C instruments, so the notes should be on the same staff and in similar placement.
Question

How do I turn piano notes into viola notes?

Community Answer

Note where middle C is on both clefs (for viola it's the center of the staff, piano treble clef it's the first ledger line below the bottom of the staff. Piano bass clef is the opposite of piano treble clef). Work from there.

Warnings

Don't publish your work unless you give a credit to the original artist and/or writer. This will lead to criminal charges.

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Music is supposed to be fun. If the project is too epic, remind yourself of that. If it doesn't work, come back to that project. Maybe it was too big for you to handle right now in your life.

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Make sure you purchased the music somehow so you aren't held accountable for copyright crimes.

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