TRANSPOSITION Advanced

Concert Pitch

Instruments like the violin, flute and cello, although reading in different clefs, all play at Concert ​ Pitch. This means that the music on the stave sounds the same pitch when it is played. Here’s a ​ ​ list of instruments that read in concert pitch:

Instrument Key Clef

Violin Concert Pitch Treble

Viola Concert Pitch Alto/Treble

Cello Concert Pitch Bass

Harp Concert Pitch Grand Staff ----- Flute Concert Pitch Treble

Oboe Concert Pitch Treble

Bassoon Concert Pitch Bass/Tenor ----- Trombone* Concert Pitch Bass/Tenor

Bass Trombone Concert Pitch Bass

Tuba** Concert Pitch Bass ----- Marimba Concert Pitch Treble

Vibraphone Concert Pitch Treble

Timpani Concert Pitch Bass ----- Piano Concert Pitch Grand Staff

Organ Concert Pitch Grand Staff

Harpsichord Concert Pitch Grand Staff

*Trombones are keyed in Bb but the player still thinks in concert pitch. That means that when they play a C it sounds a C. **Tubas also come in different keys (Eb, F and Bb) but they always read the notes as written and change the fingering accordingly.

Transposing Instruments

Other instruments are called “transposing instruments” - when these instruments are played, they sound at a different pitch than what is written.

Some transposing instruments are still in the key of C but sound an octave higher or lower and ​ ​ some are different keys all together (eg: Bb, Eb, F) ​

Here’s a list of transposing instruments: ​ ​

Instrument Key Clef

Double Bass Sounds 8ve lower than written Bass ​ ​ Guitar Sounds 8ve lower than written Treble ​ ​ ------Piccolo Sounds 8ve higher than written Treble ​ ​ Alto Flute (in G) Sounds Perfect 4th lower than written Treble ​ ​

Cor Anglais (in F) Sounds Perfect 5th lower than written Treble ​ ​

Clarinet in Bb Sounds major 2nd lower than written Treble ​ ​

Clarinet in A Sounds minor 3rd lower than written Treble ​ ​

Clarinet in Eb Sounds minor 3rd higher than written Treble ​ ​

Bass Clarinet in Bb Sounds major 9th lower than written Treble ​ ​

Contrabassoon Sounds 8ve lower than written Bass ​ ​ Soprano Sax (in Bb) Sounds major 2nd lower than written Treble ​ ​

Alto Sax (in Eb) Sounds major 6th lower than written Treble ​ ​

Tenor Sax (in Bb) Sounds 8ve + major 2nd lower than written Treble ​ ​

Baritone Sax (in Eb) Sounds 8ve + major 6th lower than written Treble ​ ​ ----- French Horn Sounds perfect 5th lower than written Treble ​ ​

Trumpet in Bb Sounds major 2nd lower than written Treble ​ ​ ----- Glockenspiel Sounds two 8ves higher than written Treble ​ ​

Xylophone Sounds 8ve higher than written Treble ​ ​ ----- Celesta Sounds 8ve higher than written Grand Staff ​ ​

Transposing on sight

Transposing instruments sometimes have to transpose on sight. If they are given music that is written in concert pitch, it is important to know which way you have to transpose.

The chart below shows which note each instrument has to play if they are reading in concert pitch. For example, a clarinet in Bb sees a written in C in concert pitch and plays a D. ​

Well Done!

That’s advanced transposition - you’re good to go!