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Transposing Instruments

Explanation of how transposing instruments work. List and keys of most common transposing instruments.

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anjwilson
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116 views2 pages

Transposing Instruments

Explanation of how transposing instruments work. List and keys of most common transposing instruments.

Uploaded by

anjwilson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Transposing instruments

Not all instruments play the notes that are written on the page for
them. They may read a C and instead play an F, a Concert F the
concert pitch is what they are actually playing.
Almost all transposing instruments transpose downward, and the
amount that they transpose downward is indicated by the key that
the instrument is in. To determine the interval of transposition, we
measure the interval from C down to the key of the instrument. So,
for Horn in F, the interval of transposition is a perfect fifth downward
because C down to F is a perfect fifth. Unfortunately, there are also a
few instruments that you just have to memorize the key they are in,
such as English Horn, which is always also in F. A list of the most
common transposing instruments and their interval of transposition is
given on the next page.
For Horn in F, any note that you see on the page will actually sound a
perfect fifth lower, so if a D is notated, the horn will play a G (G is the
concert pitch). If an F# is notated, the horn will play a B. If an Eb is
notated, the horn will play an Ab.
The staff below is written for trumpet (which is always in Bb), so the
concert pitch is a whole step lower than the notation because C down
to Bb is a whole step.
Notated pitch (Trumpet):

Concert pitch:
Transposing Instruments
English Horn
Clarinet in A
Clarinet in Bb
Alto Saxophone down
Tenor Saxophone down
Baritone Saxophone
Horn in F
down
Trumpet
down
Double Bass

down
down
down
a M6
a M9
down
a P5
a M2
down

a P5
a m3
a M2
a M13 (octave + M6)
a P8

Guitar
Celesta
Piccolo
Clarinet in Eb

down a P8
up a P8
up a P8
up a m3

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