What is a transposing instrument?
Q: What is a transposing instrument?
A: A transposing instrument is a musical instrument that does not play the notes you might think it will play, but all the notes differ from the real notes by the same musical interval.
Q: Why does a song played on a transposing instrument sound familiar, but played in a different key?
A: A song played on a transposing instrument sounds familiar but played in a different key because the transposing instrument is tuned above or below what the usual notes would be, and always above or below by the same number of notes on a scale.
Q: What are the usual notes called?
A: The usual notes are called "concert pitch".
Q: What key are most non-transposing instruments tuned to play in?
A: Most non-transposing instruments, like pianos, are tuned to play in the key of C.
Q: How is music for a transposing instrument written or described?
A: When writing music for a transposing instrument, the entire series of notes is written and described as notes moved up or down a number of semitones.
Q: What note is produced on a piano when a B flat clarinet plays the note that is called "C"?
A: When a B flat clarinet plays the note that is called "C," it produces the note that is called "B♭" when played on a piano.
Q: What are some examples of transposing instruments?
A: Woodwinds, especially the recorder and clarinets, are transposing instruments. Saxophones and most brass instruments are transposing instruments. Examples of specific transposing instruments include the "horn in F" and "alto saxophone in E♭," which mean F and E♭ in normal notes ("concert pitch").
