Otherwise, I’d recommend you to use Audacity, an open-source audio editing software that you can download for free. Make sure to check the manuals of your DAW if you’re unable to find a pitch shift function. Most audio editing and digital audio workstation (DAW) has it included out of the box. Luckily for us, pitch shifting effects are quite common. See how we’re putting our music theory knowledge to use? So which software do I need for pitch-shifting? That’s because if you want to transpose a song from the key of C to D, you then need to raise the pitch not by one, but by 2 semitones! In the example, notes C – C# and B – C is a semitone. Let’s take a look at two semitone examples: In Western music, notes are in a chromatic scale, running from the left, bass, to treble on the right.Ī semitone is the smallest interval between two notes. When you transpose the pitch of a song, you’re essentially bumping it up by semitones.įirst, picture a music keyboard. Sounds easy, yes?īut before we jump into our audio editing software and start pitching things – it’s important to learn a bit of music theory and how pitch-shifting effects work.

To help give you some perspective, bird chirps have high frequencies usually ranging from 1000Hz to 8000Hz and therefore are perceived as a high pitch.Īn engine rumble, on the other hand, has a low frequency, below 400Hz, and is considered a low pitch sound.Īnd transposing simply means shifting a song or sample’s pitch. Sound (sound waves) are produced through vibrations and the frequencies of these vibrations are measured in hertz (Hz). What is transposing & how does it work?īefore we go into the nitty-gritty of pitch shifting a song, it’s best to learn what a music pitch is in the first place.Ī pitch refers to the position (how high or low) of a sound. This is when pitch-shifting and transposition come in, to raise or lower the original pitch of a song or sample. The key of the sample does not fit with your track. You found a great sample, but there’s a slight issue. Perhaps you’re into music sampling and production. Have a song you want to sing along to, but the key is too high?

Youtube video pitch changer online