just started playing alto sax, so I was wondering can I play a recently learned scale to a song on my horn to a backing track and have the song change its key to transpose correctly to my new learned scale....does that make any sense.....mike
Hello Mike, to create a backing track in iReal Pro, it has to be set in the concert key (Song edit, info), which is the key you actually hear (as opposed to your transposed key of Eb for your alto sax).
Initially you will need to know the concert transposition to set the song in, using a chart such as these:
https://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-transposition
http://www.beginningsax.com/Sax Transposition.htm
For example, if your new scale is Dorian, with Dm7 as the chord, converting to concert, the chord is Fm7 (the letter changes, the chord quality remains the same).
Create a new song, in ‘info’, set the key to F in this case (for convenience), Set, and title the song, Done. Enter a time signature, then add a few chords in a few measures with Fm7 (or whatever your chords are to be).
Save, close.
Find a playback style and tempo.
Assuming you have set global transpose* for your instrument Eb then your chords will have converted visually to D minor, with (by design) concert key shown on the right in the bottom menu; playback is in F.
You can use the built-in Chord scales library* to investigate different scales and chords to use in your practice song. For example Dorian shows you different chord qualities like m7, m9, m6/9 which can be used with the Dorian scale (in this case) so you can vary the backing chords for aural variation but still practice the same scale.
*The ? Menu has information for setting Global transpose in Tutorials, as is the Chord scales library.
You can change the concert key (bottom right) to practice the scale in different keys.
Or add to your practice song so it has the same chord quality (or equivalent for the scale) but with different chords Fm7...Cm7...Dm7...Fm7... to practice the same scale starting on different notes.
Hopefully this helps.
)BOB
