Transposing Instrument Calculator
Convert written and concert notes for transposing instruments, including octave shifts.
Secure. Data stays in your browserOctaves use scientific pitch notation: middle C is C4. A negative instrument interval means its sounding pitch is lower than its written pitch. Enharmonic spellings share a pitch; this calculator does not preserve diatonic letter intervals.
Contents
How written pitch relates to concert pitch
A transposing instrument reads one note while producing another. For a B♭ trumpet, written C4 sounds B♭3: the concert pitch is two semitones lower. To give that trumpet a concert C4, write D4. Use the direction control to choose which side of that relationship you already know.
Choose the instrument and the octave carefully
The key name alone does not describe the octave. Both clarinet and tenor saxophone are B♭ instruments, but the tenor normally sounds an octave lower than the B♭ clarinet for the same written note. Alto and baritone saxophones likewise have different octave shifts. C instruments can transpose by an octave too, as guitar and piccolo show.
For an unusual instrument, enter its sounding pitch minus its written pitch in semitones. A part that sounds an octave lower uses −12. The sharp or flat setting changes the name displayed, not the pitch. Check the spelling against your key signature when preparing a score.
Using the Transposing Instrument Calculator
Convert a written part to its sounding pitch, or work back from a concert note to the note a player should read. Check the instrument's octave relationship as well as its key name.
Instructions
- Choose Instrument and Direction. Written → concert starts with the note on the player's part.
- Choose Input note, Octave and Result spelling. For an unlisted instrument, choose Custom interval and enter sounding minus written semitones.
- Read the result with its octave, then apply the same instrument relationship to the rest of the part.
Checking the transposition direction
Written C4 for B♭ clarinet sounds B♭3. To sound concert C4, that player reads D4. B♭ tenor saxophone has an additional octave difference, so written C4 sounds B♭2. A shared instrument key does not guarantee a shared octave.
What to do if the answer is an octave out
- Check the exact instrument option, especially clarinet versus tenor saxophone or alto versus baritone saxophone.
- Check Direction before changing the input. Reversing it applies the interval the other way.
- For Custom interval, use a negative number when the sounding note is below the written note.
Use the calculator to check sounding pitch. It gives practical sharp or flat names, so review the written spelling and key signature when preparing a score.
