'Parse and return the pitch-like <root> or <bass> element.'

def _parse_pitch(self, xml_pitch, step_tag, alter_tag):

    if (xml_pitch.find(step_tag) is None):
        raise ChordSymbolParseException('Missing    pitch    step')
    step = xml_pitch.find(step_tag).text
    alter_string = ''
    if (xml_pitch.find(alter_tag) is not None):
        alter_text = xml_pitch.find(alter_tag).text
        alter_string = self._alter_to_string(alter_text)
    if self.state.transpose:
        raise ChordSymbolParseException('Transposition    of    chord    symbols    currently    unsupported')
    return (step + alter_string)
