User manual

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Enharmonic equivalent key signatures

Enharmonic equivalent key signatures are keys with different names that include the same

pitches, such as C♯ major and D♭ major. Dorico Elements follows the convention for transposing

to keys with the same type of accidental as the previous key, except where the enharmonic

equivalent key signature has fewer accidentals.

When transposing selections of notes, Dorico Elements prefers keys with the same type of

accidental as the previous key signature. When choosing key signatures for transposing

instruments, Dorico Elements prefers key signatures with the same type of accidental as the

current concert pitch key.

However, there are some instances where you might prefer to transpose to a key with a different

type of accidental as it has fewer accidentals than the enharmonic equivalent key. For example,

C♯ major has seven sharps, whereas the enharmonic equivalent key of D♭ major only has ve

ats. This means the player has to remember the accidentals for fewer notes.

Transposing to an enharmonic equivalent key with fewer accidentals can have the added benet

of improving readability by avoiding double sharps or double ats. For example, transposing

music from F♯ to G♯ requires the leading note to be spelled as an F, but transposing to A♭ instead

means the leading note is G♮.

G♯ major requires a double sharp leading note A♭ major, the enharmonic equivalent to G♯, does not

require a double sharp leading note

By default, Dorico Elements selects an enharmonic equivalent key signature if it has fewer

accidentals.

How key signatures affect transposing instruments

If there is a key signature in the full score, it is transposed for a transposing instrument by the

same degree as the transposing interval for the instrument. For example, in a project in E major,

a B♭ clarinet part has a key of F♯ major, as a B♭ clarinet sounds a whole tone below its notated

pitch.

Instruments that do not show a key signature

Some instruments are accustomed to seeing no key signatures in their parts, no matter the

overall key of the piece. These instruments include timpani, percussion, horn, trumpet, and

sometimes the harp. If you have input the No key sig version of these instruments, then no key

signature is shown in their parts, even if they are a transposing instrument, such as horn or

trumpet.

You can still transpose music in the staves of these instruments, but they show accidentals as

necessary, instead of showing a key signature.