Table of Transposing Instruments Página 1 de 3

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Table of Transposing Instruments
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FMIDICLA's staff by K&A/ kanda@yo.rim.or.jp

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For historical reasons, certain musical instruments are notated in atransposed key rather than the actual key.
List of Composers
Many sequence softs support these transposing instruments through use of the Key+ function. This table is for
Table of Instruments convenience in your searching number of Key+ (how far you should shift the key of a certain instrument from
MIDI Sequences their notation to the actual sound.)
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Middle 'C' is shown as 'C4' in this table, and the higher a note the larger the number. Common instruments used
Suggested Links in many orchestral repertories are marked with asterisks.
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Flute

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
* Piccolo C C4-C7 +12 C 5 - C 8 C5-A7
* Flute C C4-C7 0 C4-C7 E4-A6
Alto Flute G C4-C7 -5 G3-G6 G 3 - A#5
Bass Flute C C4-C6 -12 C 3 - C 5

Oboe

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
* Oboe C Bb3 - A 6 0 Bb3 - A 6 C4-D6
Oboe d'amore A Bb3 - E 6 -3 G 3 - C#6
* English Horn F B3-F6 -7 E 3 - Bb5 Ab3 - D 5

Clarinet

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
Piccolo Clarinet Ab E 3 - E 6 +8 C 4 - C 7
Piccolo Clarinet Eb E 3 - G 6 +3 G 3 - Bb6
(Piccolo) Clarinet D E 3 - G#6 +2 F#3 - Bb6
* Clarinet Bb E 3 - B 6 -2 D3-A6 D3-C6
Clarinet A E3-B6 -3 Db3 - Ab6 Db3 - B 5
Alto Clarinet Eb E 3 - G 6 -9 G 3 - Bb5
* Bass Clarinet Bb E 3 - G 6 -14 D 3 - F 5 D3-A4
Contrabass Clarinet Eb E 3 - D 6 -21 G 1 - F 4
Contrabass Clarinet Bb E 3 - D 6 -26 D 1 - C 4

Bassoon

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
* Bassoon C Bb1 - Eb5 0 Bb1 - Eb5 Bb1 - Ab4
Contrabassoon C Bb1 - Bb4 -12 Bb0 - Bb3

Saxophone

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
Sopranino Saxophone Eb Bb3 - Eb6 +3 Db4 - Gb6
Soprano Saxophone Bb Bb3 - F#6 -2 Ab3 - E 6
Alto Saxophone Eb Bb3 - F#6 -9 Db3 - A 5
Tenor Saxophone Bb Bb3 - F#6 -14 Ab2 - E 5
Baritone Saxophone Eb A 3 - F#6 -21 C 1 - Gb4
Bass Saxophone Bb Bb3 - Eb6 -26 Ab1 - Db4

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Horn(written by old style)

Treble cref

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
French Horn(Alto) Bb G 3 - G 5 -2 F3-F5 (Treble cref)
French Horn A G3-G5 -3 E3-E5 (Treble cref)
French Horn Ab G 3 - G 5 -4 Eb3 - Eb5 (Treble cref)
French Horn G G3-G5 -5 D3-D5 (Treble cref)
French Horn F G3-B5 -7 C3-F5 (Treble cref)
French Horn E G3-C6 -8 B2-E5 C3-C5 (Treble cref)
French Horn Eb G 3 - C 6 -9 Bb2 - Eb5 (Treble cref)
French Horn D G3-E6 -10 A 2 - D 5 (Treble cref)
French Horn C G3-E6 -12 G 2 - E 5 (Treble cref)
French Horn(Bass) Bb G 3 - E 6 -14 F 2 - D 5 (Treble cref)

Bass cref

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
French Horn(Alto) Bb C 1 - G 2 +10 Bb1 - F 3 (Bass cref)
French Horn A C2-G2 +9 A 2 - E 3 (Bass cref)
French Horn Ab C 2 - G 2 +8 Ab2 - Eb3 (Bass cref)
French Horn G C2-G2 +7 G 2 - D 3 (Bass cref)
French Horn F C2-G2 +5 F 2 - C 3 (Bass cref)
French Horn E C2-G2 +4 E 2 - B 2 (Bass cref)
French Horn Eb C 2 - G 2 +3 Eb2 - Bb2 (Bass cref)
French Horn D C2-G2 +2 D 2 - A 2 (Bass cref)
French Horn C C2-G2 0 C2-G2 (Bass cref)
French Horn(Bass) Bb C 2 - G 2 -2 Bb1 - F 3 (Bass cref)

Horn(written by new style)

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register
French Horn(Alto) Bb C 2 - G 5 -2 Bb1 - F 5
French Horn A C3-G5 -3 A2-E5
French Horn Ab C 3 - G 5 -4 Ab2 - Eb5
French Horn G C3-G5 -5 G2-D5
French Horn F C3-B5 -7 F2-F5
French Horn E C3-C6 -8 E2-E5 C3-C5
French Horn Eb C 3 - C 6 -9 Eb2 - Eb5
French Horn D C3-E6 -10 D 2 - D 5
French Horn C C3-E6 -12 C 2 - E 5
French Horn(Bass) Bb C 3 - E 6 -14 Bb1 - D 5
* Horn F F2-C6 -7 Bb1 - F 5 Bb1 - C 5

Trumpet

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
Piccolo Trumpet D F#3 - C 6 +2 G#3 - D 6
* Trumpet Bb F#3 - G 6 -2 E3-F6 F 3 - A#5
Natural Trumpet Bb G 3 - C 6 -2 F 3 - Bb5
Natural Trumpet C G 3 - G 5 0 G3-G5
Natural Trumpet D G 3 - G 5 +2 A 3 - A 5
Natural Trumpet Eb G 3 - G 5 +3 Bb3 - Bb5
Natural Trumpet E C 3 - E 5 +4 E 3 - G#5
Natural Trumpet F C 3 - E 5 +5 F 3 - A 5
Cornet Bb F#3 - C 6 -2 G 3 - Bb5
Cornet A Gb3 - C 6 -3 Eb3 - A 5
Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
Fluegelhorn Bb F#3 - C 6 -2 G 3 - Bb5

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Table of Transposing Instruments Página 3 de 3

Trombone

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
* Trombone(Alto) E A 2 - F 5 0 A2-F5
* Trombone(Tenor) Bb E 2 - Db5 0 E 2 - Db5 E 2 - F#4
* Trombone(Bass) F Bb1 - Gb4 0 Bb1 - Gb4 Bb1 - F 4

Tuba

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key Practical register remarks
* Tuba Bb0 - F 4 0 Bb0 - F 4 Bb1 - A 3 Kind of Keys;Bb,Eb,C,F

Strings

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key

* Violin C G3-B7 0 G3-B7
* Viola C C3-E6 0 C3-E6
* Violoncello C C2-C6 0 C2-C6
* Double-Bass C E2-D6 -12 E 1 - D 5

Keyboard and Harp

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key

Piano C A0-C8 0 A0-C8
Celesta C C3-C7 +12 C 4 - C 8
Harpsichord C A1-E6 0 A1-E6
* Harp Cb Cb1 - Ab7 0 B 0 - Ab7

Percussion

Instrument Name Key Written key Key+ Actual concert key

Xylophone C C3-C6 +12 C 4 - C 7
Marimba C C3-C7 0 C3-C7
Glockenspiel C F3-C6 +24 F 5 - C 8
Vibraphone C F3-F6 0 F3-F6
Chimes(Tubura Bells) C C 4 - F 5 0 C4-F5
* Kettledrums(Timpani) C E 3 - G#3 0 E 3 - G#3
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