Transposition Chart printable pdf download

Fundamentals of Music

Transposition

TRANSPOSITION

Not all instruments sound alike. Because of this, not all instruments in the

band can play the same notes at the same time and still sound good!

Sometimes you will hear the conductor tell the band to play a note with the

word “concert” in front of it. Some instruments can play the note that the

conductor says, while others have to go through what is called

“transposition.” Here are some important facts:

Transposition

is the process of playing or writing music in a different key

from the concert key.

Concert Pitch

(or concert key/scale) refers to the sounding pitch (or

•

key/scale).

Transposed Pitch

(or transposed key/scale) refers to the written

•

pitch (or key/scale) that appears in the part.

Interval of transposition

is the distance between the transposed (written)

pitch and the actual sounding pitch. Consult the Transposition Reference

Chart to find the interval (distance) of transposition for your instrument.

Concert Pitch Instruments

do not have to transpose. These instruments

play the note that the conductor says to play. Concert Pitch Instruments

include: flute, oboe, bassoon, trombone, euphonium, tuba and the mallet

percussion instruments.

Transposing Instruments

sound different from the notes in concert

pitch. In order to sound the same as the Concert Pitch Instruments, they

must play a certain distance of notes away from what the conductor says to

play. The distance depends on the instrument. Consult the Transposition

Reference Chart to find the interval (distance) of transposition for your

instrument.

Isn’t this making things too complicated?

No. Actually, transposing makes things easier for the musician:

1. Extremely high pitched instruments or extremely low pitched

instruments transpose to make it easier to read their parts.

Transposition eliminates ledger lines way above or way below the staff.

2. Many wind instruments transpose to make it easier for musicians to

switch from one instrument to another with few fingering and note

reading problems. For example, all clarinets use the same fingerings,

and all saxophones use the same fingerings.

3. Before valves were invented, many musicians could not play all of the

notes in a scale. They had to add or take away short lengths of tubing

(called “crooks) in order to play certain notes. Imagine having to do

this when the music is really fast!

Garofalo, Robert. Rehearsal Handbook for Band and Orchestra Students. Meredith Music Publications,

1983.

Transposition Chart

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