My daughter has this (wonderful) book, and I'm trying to work out guitar accompaniment for one of the pieces (Mack the Knife). She's a clarinet beginner, I'm a guitar beginner. Chordal accompaniments (for piano or guitar, I assume) are given on the score, but they seem to me to be a note out, i.e. a full tone too high. In other words, I wonder whether the person who wrote the chordal accompaniments forgot to take into account that Bb clarinet plays a note lower than is written. Or is it me that's confused? Anybody know this book? Thanks - Guy

Now it occurs to me that the chord symbols may be given as chord changes for the clarinetist, not for other instruments, which would therefore have to transpose accordingly. Is that the explanation?

Are the chords and melody both in the same key? If so, you'll have to transpose the chords down a tone.

Let's assume that the melody is written in C major. If so, you'll have to play in Bb major whilst your daughter plays in in C; similarly, if the melody's written in F you'll have to play in Eb.

Hope this makes sense.

Thank you Deborah. The score I'm talking about has a single treble-clef staff showing the clarinet line, with a single sharp... on a clarinet score does this mean G major or something else? And printed over this staff are chord symbols (e.g. G6, Am7, etc.). As I say, my ear is telling me that I should be playing F6 on guitar where the score says G6, and what's unclear to me is whether this is a mistake in the score, or whether the "G6" is intended for the clarinetist, not for guitar accompaniment. Sorry, this is complicated, probably me tying myself in knots.

Yes, one sharp means the piece is in G major. It sounds as though the chords have been written out in G as well, so you'll have to play them down a tone, i.e. in F. G6 will become F6, Am7 will become Gm7 and so on.

In pretty much everything I play where the chords are written above the melody line for a particular instrument they will be transposed for that instrument, not written in the correct key for the accompanist. It means that you have the chords in the right key as a guide for improvising.

Ah, thank-you, TSax. So the chords are written as a guide for the clarinetist, not for guitar accompaniment. My mistake. [Also, from Deborah's previous post I suspect that I may be remembering the key signature wrong... haven't got it in front of me, perhaps D major not G major.] Thanks again, sorry to trouble you windy people

EDIT: Should clarify: the book I'm referring to is the one published by the ABRSM. Great book!

EDIT AGAIN: I checked this. The clarinet score has one sharp, and the piano score has one flat: i.e. the piece is in F major = G major for clarinetist. Thanks again.