How to customize a tune

You can download an abc source file onto your computer's file system and customize it using this online abc editor. First, please read about abc notation. Then, try one of the following:

• Change the octave
• Make a cello version
• Transpose a tune

1. To lower or change the octave of a fiddle tune:
    
   Find the line, just above the beginning of the tune, which denotes what key the tune is in. This line begins with K:. For example, the 8th line in this tune is the key line:

   X:1
   T:Dickey's Discovery
   C:Unknown, transmitted thru Lotus Dickey to Pete Sutherland
   M:4/4
   Q:1/2=120
   L:1/8
   R:reel
   K:D
   dB|:"D"A2FG    FEDE |    FA2B    A2dB | "D"A2FG    FEDF  |  "A"EDEF  E2 dB|
       "D"A2FG    FEDE |    F2A2    f2fe | "G"d2Bc "A"BAFG  |1 "D"A2 D2 D2 dB:|2"D"A2 D2 D2 (3ABc|
     |:"D"d2d2 "A"egfe | "G"dedB "A"ABcA | "D"dcde "Bm"fefg |  "A"a2e2  egfe |
       "D"d2d2 "A"egfe | "D"fgaf "A"egfe | "G"d2Bc "A"BAFG  |1 "D"A2 D2 D2 (3ABc:|2"D"A2 D2 D2 dB|]
   

   Append this text to the key line: clef=treble middle=D''. Now the tune notation will look like this:

   X:1
   T:Dickey's Discovery
   C:Unknown, transmitted thru Lotus Dickey to Pete Sutherland
   M:4/4
   Q:1/2=120
   L:1/8
   R:reel
   K:D clef=treble middle=D''
   dB|:"D"A2FG    FEDE |    FA2B    A2dB | "D"A2FG    FEDF  |  "A"EDEF  E2 dB|
       "D"A2FG    FEDE |    F2A2    f2fe | "G"d2Bc "A"BAFG  |1 "D"A2 D2 D2 dB:|2"D"A2 D2 D2 (3ABc|
     |:"D"d2d2 "A"egfe | "G"dedB "A"ABcA | "D"dcde "Bm"fefg |  "A"a2e2  egfe |
       "D"d2d2 "A"egfe | "D"fgaf "A"egfe | "G"d2Bc "A"BAFG  |1 "D"A2 D2 D2 (3ABc:|2"D"A2 D2 D2 dB|]
   

   Paste the above into the online abc editor and click the Update button.  It should display the modified tune above the Edit pane.  Click "pdf" on the upper right of the displayed tune to save the .pdf version of the modified tune.

   The following key lines can also be used to achieve various different octaves:
   

   K:D clef=treble middle=D''
   K:D clef=treble middle=D'
   K:D clef=treble middle=D
   K:D clef=treble middle=D,
   K:D clef=treble middle=D,,
   

2. To create a cello version of a tune:
   

   The procedure is similar to number 1 above. The following key lines can also be used to achieve various different cello (bass clef) octaves:

   K:D clef=bass middle=D''
   K:D clef=bass middle=D'
   K:D clef=bass middle=D
   K:D clef=bass middle=D,
   K:D clef=bass middle=D,,
   

   Play with the settings to see which line gets you the correct range for a cello (see Wikipedia). Make sure that you keep the key signature the same as the original tune!

3. To transpose a tune to a different key:
    
   The procedure is similar to number 1 above. Copy the original source code into this online tune transposer and click the buttons shown to transpose as desired. I have found that this site sometimes incorrectly translates guitar chords, but it tranposes the notes pretty well. It should be possible by looking at the transposed code how to go about correcting any strange guitar chords that result when transposing.