Roman Numerals for Musical Analysis
Modulation Types for Musical Analysis
Examples of Modulation Types for Musical Analysis (PDF)
Dr. Edward Murphy's "Sonata Form" Essay
CHARLESL@UTEP.EDU
This page was updated 6 October 2021.
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CHARLES FRANCIS LEINBERGER, PH.D. Instrument Transpositions for Musical Analysis |
| Calculate the interval from C to the key of the instrument. That is the interval which the instrument transposes. For example, from C to Bb is a descending major second (or ninth). Bb instruments transpose down a major second (or ninth). Eb instruments transpose up a minor third or down a major sixth. Bass clef transpositions for horns and trumpets are based on old notation as found in Mozart. |
| Name of Instrument (French, Italian, German) | |
|---|---|
| Key of Instrument | Sounding Pitch |
| Horn (Cor, Corno, Horn) | |
|---|---|
| C (rare) | Sounds as written (P8 above in bass clef). |
| B alto (Bb) | Sounds M2 below written pitch (m7 above in bass clef). |
| A | Sounds m3 below written pitch (M6 above in bass clef). |
| Ab | Sounds M3 below written pitch (m6 above in bass clef). |
| G | Sounds P4 below written pitch (P5 above in bass clef). |
| F (most common) | Sounds P5 below written pitch (P4 above in bass clef). |
| E | Sounds m6 below written pitch (M3 above in bass clef). |
| Eb | Sounds M6 below written pitch (m3 above in bass clef). |
| D | Sounds m7 below written pitch (M2 above in bass clef). |
| C | Sounds P8 below written pitch (as written in bass clef). |
| H (B natural) | Sounds m9 below written pitch (m2 below in bass clef). |
| B basso (Bb) | Sounds M9 below written pitch (M2 below in bass clef). |
| Trumpet (Trompette, Tromba, Trompete) | |
|---|---|
| C Piccolo (new) | Sounds P8 above written pitch. |
| Bb Piccolo | Sounds m7 above written pitch. |
| A Piccolo | Sounds M6 above written pitch. |
| G | Sounds P5 above written pitch. |
| F (popular in the 19th century) | Sounds P4 above written pitch. |
| E | Sounds M3 above written pitch. |
| Eb | Sounds m3 above written pitch. |
| D (popular during baroque period) | Sounds M2 above written pitch. |
| C (most common in modern orchestras) | Sounds as written (P8 above in bass clef). |
| Bb (most common in modern bands) | Sounds M2 below written pitch. |
| A (obsolete) | Sounds m3 below written pitch. |
| Ab (very obsolete) | Sounds M3 below written pitch. |
| Cornet (Cornet à pistons, Cornetto, Kornett) | |
|---|---|
| Eb (popular in British bands) | Sounds m3 above written pitch. |
| C (rare) | Sounds as written (P8 above in bass clef). |
| Bb (most common in modern bands) | Sounds M2 below written pitch. |
| A (obsolete) | Sounds m3 below written pitch. |
| Flugelhorn (Bugle, Flicorno, Flügelhorn) | |
|---|---|
| Bb | Sounds M2 below written pitch. |
| Clarinet (Clarinette, Clarinetto, Klarinette) | |
|---|---|
| Eb | Sounds m3 above written pitch. |
| D | Sounds M2 above written pitch. |
| C | Sounds as written. |
| Bb (most common) | Sounds M2 below written pitch. |
| A (common in modern orchestras) | Sounds m3 below written pitch. |
| Eb Alto | Sounds M6 below written pitch. |
| Bb Bass (treble clef) | Sounds M9 below written pitch. |
| Bb Bass (bass clef) | Sounds M2 below written pitch. |
| A Bass (obsolete) | Sounds m3 below written pitch. |
| Saxophone (Saxophone, Saxophono, Saxophon) | |
|---|---|
| Bb Soprano | Sounds M2 below written pitch. |
| Eb Alto | Sounds M6 below written pitch. |
| Bb Tenor | Sounds M9 below written pitch. |
| Eb Baritone | Sounds M13 below written pitch. |
| Bb Bass | Sounds M16 below written pitch |
| Flute (Flûte, Flauto, Flöte) | |
|---|---|
| Db Piccolo (rare, sometimes used in concert bands) | Sounds m9 above written pitch. |
| C Piccolo (Petite Flûte, Flauto Piccolo or Ottavino, Kleine Flöte) | Sounds P8 above written pitch. |
| G Alto Flute (Flûte Contralto en Sol, Flautone, Altoflöte) | Sounds P4 below written pitch. |
| C Bass Flute (Flûte Basse, Flauto Basso, Bassflöte) | Sounds P8 below written pitch. |
| Other Transposing Instruments | |
|---|---|
| Oboe d'Amore (Hautbois d'Amour, Oboe d'Amore, Liebesoboe) | Sounds m3 below written pitch. |
| English Horn (Cor Anglais, Corno Inglese, Englisch Horn) | Sounds P5 below written pitch. |
| Heckelphone (Heckelphone, Heckelphon, Heckelphon) | Sounds P8 below written pitch. |
| Contrabassoon (Contrebasson, Contrafagotto, Kontrafagott) | Sounds P8 below written pitch. |
| Glockenspiel (Jue de Timbres, Campanella, Glockenspiel) | Sounds P15 above written pitch. |
| Xylophone (Xylophone, Xilofono, Xylophon) | Sounds P8 above written pitch. |
| Celesta (Céleste, Celesta, Celesta) | Sounds P8 above written pitch. |
| Guitar (Guitare, Chitarra, Gitarre) | Sounds P8 below written pitch. |
| Contrabass (Contrebasse, Contrabasso, Kontrabass) | Sounds P8 below written pitch. |
| Instruments that Don't Transpose | |
|---|---|
| Name of Instrument | French, Italian, German |
| Violin | Violin, Violino, Violine |
| Viola | Alto, Viola, Bratsche |
| Violoncello | Violoncelle, Violoncello, Violoncell |
| Flute | Flûte (Grande Flûte), Flauto (Flauto Grande), Flöte (Grosse Flöte) |
| Oboe | Hautbois, Oboe, Hoboe |
| Bassoon | Basson, Fagotto, Fagott |
| Harmonica | Harmonica, Armonica a bocca, Mundharmonika |
| Trombone | Trombone, Trombone, Posaune |
| Tuba | Tuba, Tuba, Tuba |
| Harp | Harpe, Arpa, Harfe |
| Piano | Piano, Pianoforte, Klavier |
| Harpsichord | Clavecin, Cemballo, Cembalo |
| Organ | Orgue, Organo, Orgel |
| Vibraphone | Vibraphone, Vibrafono, Vibraphon |
| Marimba | Marimba, Marimba, Marimbaphon |
| Tubular Bells (Chimes) | Cloches, Campane, Glocken |
| Timpani | Timbales, Timpani, Pauken |
| Flats appear as lower-case letter "B"s. (There is no HTML code for a flat sign.) Thanks to Dr. Edward Murphy, The University of Arizona |