For a concert C, the player reads…
- Flute, oboe, violin, piano, trombone, tuba: C. No transposition.
- Clarinet, trumpet, flugelhorn, soprano sax (B♭): D, a whole step higher.
- Tenor sax, bass clarinet, treble-clef euphonium (low B♭): D, a ninth higher.
- Alto sax, alto clarinet (E♭): A, a major sixth higher.
- Baritone sax (low E♭): A, an octave and a sixth higher.
- E♭ clarinet, sopranino sax (high E♭): A, a minor third lower.
- French horn (F): G, a perfect fifth higher.
- Piccolo and guitar: C, but they sound an octave higher and lower respectively.
How the key signature changes
- B♭: two fewer flats or two more sharps. C major becomes D major.
- E♭: three fewer flats or three more sharps. C major becomes A major.
- F: one fewer flat or one more sharp. C major becomes G major.
Frequently asked questions
Why do transposing instruments exist?
So the same fingering reads the same across a family: a saxophonist can switch from alto to tenor without learning to read again.
Can I transpose a whole band at once?
Extract the parts first, then transpose each one for its instrument.