Transposition

Clarinets are in $B^{♭}$, Trumpets and Tenors (Sax) too

Bases^[Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba, Sousaphone] mostly are $C$ but there’s no rule

Because Bari Sax, though a base is $E^{♭}$ with a treble clef

$E^{♭}$ also is Alto Sax, with a sweet flow

Not as sweet as the Flutes and Piccolos in $C$ though

As we have seen, there are 3 primary transposition $C$, $B^{♭}$ and $E^{♭}$^[though, there is also the French Horn that has an $F$ transposition].

What does transposition even mean?

It simply means that the instrument you have produces the concert¹ sound of your transposition when you play your $C$. For example, if you play your $C$ in a Clarinet in $B♭$, you get a $B♭$ sound. Another example, if the conductor asks you to play concert $E♭$ on your Alto Sax, you will have to play your $C$².

Using the Circle of Fifths to tackle transposition

The circle of fifths has many use cases, each is a subject of discussion in its own right. However, it can also be used to transpose notes, using this simple technique

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• the rule is to move clockwise if you want to know what note to play on your instrument to get that sound.
• 1 hour for F horn, 2 hours for $B^{♭}$ instruments and 3 hours for $E^{♭}$ instruments

Let’s apply the rule: If I have a melody line that goes like this

E E F G G F E D C C D E E D D

Then on the trumpet in $B♭$, the notes would look like this:

Gb Gb G A A G Gb E D D A Gb Gb E E

Each note has just been transposed by 2 hours clockwise, e.g. $E\to G♭$

We can do the same for the Alto Sax, but I suggest you do it and try it out to see if you got it right.

Footnotes

1. the real note, that sounds to the ear as it is written ↩

2. because playing your $C$ creates a concert $E♭$ sound ↩