Content

• Steps
• Tips

The transposition of parts for instruments such as clarinet, tenor saxophone and trumpet is very different from, for example, piano, because they are recorded in a different scale than they are actually played. In this article, we will show you how to transpose music written in the key of C into the key of B flat.

Steps

1. 1 Familiarize yourself with the tuning of your instrument. Below are the main representatives of the B-flat system:
   • Trumpets and Corn, Tenor Saxophone
   • Tenor sax
   • Clarinet
2. 2 Know the key of the transposition. When a pianist sees a C note in the notes, it means that he will hit the C note on the keyboard. However, when the trumpeter sees the note C in the notes, he plays B flat. In order to make the musical sound correct (and reduce tension in the band) we must write a part for a wind instrument so that its key matches the key in which the pianist is playing.
3. 3 Start by writing notes. B-flat instruments sound a whole pitch lower than what is written in the notes, you will need to raise each note a full pitch. The easiest way to do this is to write the notes in the correct key for the given instrument.
   • Let's say a piano part is written in the key of B-flat (in which there should be two flats at the key, but they are not there), concert tuning. One whole tone up from B flat is C (the D part will sound like B flat), that is, you must write the C part for your trumpet.
   • Conversely, if the piano part is in the key of C, you must record in the key of D.
4. 4 Here's a helpful tool. To transpose a part for a B flat instrument, start by defining the key of the concert scale, which is the key you actually hear, and add a whole tone to it. This tone will be key for your transposed part.
   • F For example, the concert key is G major. Looking at the table, find this key (second from the top left). Note that the note is F with a sharp. One tone up from G major is A major; in the table you can see that there are three sharps in this key: F #, C #, G #. This is the key you will actually use for your B flat instrument.
   • Sometimes you will need to switch from sharp keys to flat keys or vice versa. For example, if the concert key is F major (1 flat), then raising one tone will take you to G major (1 sharp).
   • When changing the key, do not forget to move the notes one tone higher when recording. For example, if there was a F note in concert tuning, you need to write it down as G.

Tips

• Don't be afraid to ask other musicians for advice.
• If you have a good visual memory, write down the lettering of all 12 semitones (from "C" to "B flat"), then remember the scale of the instrument into which this will all be transposed, and write it down side by side. Now rewrite all semitones from "C" to "C" taking into account the transposition. And you will get a column that will also begin with some note and end with it. This can be a helpful cheat sheet for you. In the left column of the C scale, the F will correspond to the salt from the B-flat column.
• Remember this applies to all B flat instruments, including some trumpets, clarinets, soprano and tenor saxophones.
• Practice this skill to perfection.
• If you know your part well, you can play it and transpose it on the fly, that is, if the part is written in Do, then you perform it in Re.
• You can always define the key to be transposed by adding two sharps, relative to the concert scale. For example, if the music is written in E flat major (3 flat in key), then you will play it in F major (1 flat). Adding sharps is the same as subtracting flats.
• Consider octave transposition in various types of instruments. For example, a tenor saxophone sounds nine tones (octave + full pitch) lower than what is written in the sheet music.