Glossaria.net

Glossary Music / Term

Transposing instruments

Instruments for which the music is written in another key or in another octave than that of their actual sound. The simplest examples are the piccolo and the double bass which sound an octave higher and lower than written, respectively. Nearly all wind instruments (except trombones), not pitched in C, are transposing instruments. The clarinet, trumpet and horn sound the interval between the C and their pitch lower than written, except the clarinet in Eb which sounds a minor third higher than the written pitch. In other words, a written C sounds as the note (below the C) the instrument is pitched. The cornet, saxophone, bassett horn and cor anglais are also transposing instruments. (In pre-1900 scores, horns are written an octave too low when notated in the bass clef, in these cases they transpose upwards.)

Permanent link Transposing instruments - Creation date 2021-12-31


< Transcription Glossary / Music Treble >