Brainlag MusicThe note a transposing instrument reads for a note that is to sound, and the key signature its part carries: the clarinets, the trumpet in B flat, the horn and cor anglais in F, and the double bass.
Written higher than it sounds
A transposing instrument sounds lower than written, so its part is written higher, by the same interval.
Learn how much higher each part is written by heart
| Instrument | Sounds | So its part is written |
|---|---|---|
| clarinet in B flat, trumpet in B flat | a major 2nd lower | a major 2nd higher |
| clarinet in A | a minor 3rd lower | a minor 3rd higher |
| horn in F, cor anglais | a perfect 5th lower | a perfect 5th higher |
| double bass | an octave lower | an octave higher |
The note that sounds is called concert pitch. When you know the note that is to sound, write the part higher by the instrument's own interval.
The rest of this lesson and its 6 practice questions are in Brainlag Music Theory.
Screen 1 of 4, free to read.
- 6 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
- Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards