CHARLES FRANCIS LEINBERGER, PH.D. Instrument Transpositions for Musical Analysis

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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.

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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

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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

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charlesl home 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.