Integrated Music Theory 2023-24

12a Discussion - Instrumental Transpositions and Ranges

Class discussion

Written pitch: what is written on the page. If you’re playing a transposed instrument, the note you are playing will be transposed too.

Sounding pitch: the “actual” note being played. Concert A is concert A no matter what instrument you’re playing.

Concert pitch: interchangeable with sounding pitch. Basically means “in C.” This is the baseline point of reference for everything else.

Remember that the process of transposition relies on compensation. If an instrument is pitched lower, its written pitches are higher than concert pitch. Ex: Bb trumpet’s written C is concert Bb.

Ranges There is a range and transposition handout to print out that is very handy! It is in lesson 12a. It has very conservative ranges though for Brass instruments. It has nice normal ranges for everything.

Transposition hints You can organize various instruments according to how their music is written:

  • C instruments: written/sounding pitches match! These are the easy ones.
  • Octave displacing instruments: instruments play up or down an octave from what is written. Generally high instruments get written an octave lower(to sound higher), and low instruments get written an octave higher (to sound lower) (think about compensation like we talked about earlier!).
  • Bb instruments: transpose(sounds) down a M2 from written pitch. Some instruments (like tenor sax) have an additional octave displacement.You have to write a step higher,so it sounds a step lower.
  • Eb instruments: transposition is based around M6. Some instruments have octave displacements, and Eb clarinet is transposed up a m3 from written. This one is the only exception of transposing up. Baritone sax has a pretty easy trick for transposing it!
    • Quick way to remember what keys the saxophones are in: organize them ascending to descending and they will alternate Bb and Eb (soprano, alto, tenor, bari). Or think of soprano/tenor and alto/bari as pairs.
  • F instruments: transpose down a P5 from written pitch.
  • Others
    • Clarinet in A: down a m3 from written pitch
    • Alto flute: written in G, transpose down a P4 from written pitch. (will not have to deal this semester with this)