Master transposition for trumpet, horn, saxophone, clarinet, and all transposing instruments. Interactive chart included.
Select an instrument and concert pitch to see the written pitch instantly.
When a trumpet player reads and plays a C, the audience hears a Bb. This difference between what's written and what sounds is the essence of transposition.
Concert Pitch: The actual sounding frequency. What the audience hears. What a piano would play.
Written Pitch: What appears on the page for a transposing instrument. What the player reads.
Non-transposing instruments (piano, flute, violin, etc.) have the same concert and written pitch. Transposing instruments have a built-in offset.
When we say an instrument is "in Bb" or "in F," we mean:
The instrument's key tells you what pitch sounds when the player reads C.
Each instrument family transposes by a specific interval. Here's the complete reference:
| Instrument | Key | Sounds... | To Write, Transpose UP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb Trumpet, Bb Clarinet, Soprano Sax | Bb | Major 2nd lower | Major 2nd (whole step) |
| F Horn, English Horn | F | Perfect 5th lower | Perfect 5th |
| Eb Alto Sax, Eb Clarinet | Eb | Major 6th lower | Major 6th |
| Bb Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet | Bb | Major 9th lower (octave + M2) | Major 9th |
| Eb Baritone Sax | Eb | Octave + Major 6th lower | Octave + Major 6th |
| A Clarinet | A | Minor 3rd lower | Minor 3rd |
| Piccolo | C | Octave higher | Write octave lower |
| Glockenspiel | C | 2 octaves higher | Write 2 octaves lower |
Writing for a transposing instrument? Transpose UP from concert pitch.
Reading a transposing part at concert pitch? Transpose DOWN.
When transposing, the key signature changes too. If your concert key is C major and you're writing for Bb trumpet, the trumpet part should be in D major (two sharps).
Our flashcard tool drills transposition until it becomes automatic.
Start Transposition Flashcards →Transposing instruments exist for historical and practical reasons. Within instrument families (like clarinets or saxophones), players can switch between different-sized instruments while using the same fingerings. This makes doubling easier. Additionally, many brass instruments evolved with specific overtone series, making certain keys more natural to write in.
To write for Bb trumpet, transpose UP a major 2nd (whole step) from concert pitch. If the concert pitch is C, write D for trumpet. If concert pitch is Bb, write C. The trumpet player reads C but the audience hears Bb.
To write for F horn, transpose UP a perfect 5th from concert pitch. If concert pitch is C, write G for horn. If concert pitch is F, write C. The horn player reads C but the audience hears F (a fifth lower).
Concert pitch is the actual sounding frequency—what you hear. Written pitch is what appears on the page. For non-transposing instruments (piano, flute, violin), these are the same. For transposing instruments (trumpet, horn, sax), they differ by a specific interval.
When WRITING parts for transposing instruments, transpose UP from concert pitch. When READING transposing parts to find concert pitch, transpose DOWN. An easy way to remember: the written note is always "higher" on the page than the sounding note for common transposing instruments (Bb, F, Eb).
Transposition is essential for arrangers, conductors, and anyone working with wind and brass instruments. These resources can help you go deeper: