Instrument Transposer for Trumpet, Sax, Clarinet & Horn

Transposing music for trumpet, saxophone, clarinet or horn? This instrument transposer moves chords and notes between concert pitch and B♭, E♭, F, A and G instruments.

Written forShow it for

Concert pitch (C) → B♭ trumpet: up a major 2nd (2 semitones up, or 10 down) · C major becomes D major

Chords or a song with chords

For B♭ trumpet

D   G   A   D
Bm  Em  A7  D

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How to transpose for your instrument

Choose the two instruments. "Written for" is what your music is written for (usually concert pitch: a piano or guitar chart). "Show it for" is the instrument that will read it.
Paste chords, a song or notes. Paste a chord chart or a song with chords, or switch to Notes and type a melody as letters (C D E F G).
Read the result. The interval and the new key appear at the top, and every chord or note is written for your instrument, with the right sharps and flats for its key.

Worked example: a blues in B♭ for the whole band

A blues in concert B♭ uses B♭7, E♭7 and F7. Here is what each player reads:

Instrument	Key	I7	IV7	V7
Concert pitch (piano, guitar, bass)	B♭	B♭7	E♭7	F7
B♭ trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax	C	C7	F7	G7
E♭ alto and baritone sax	G	G7	C7	D7
F horn	F	F7	B♭7	C7

Everyone plays different chord names, but the band sounds in the same key.

Transposing instrument chart

How each instrument sounds compared with its written notes, and what concert C and concert B♭ look like on its part. Intervals checked against instrument references (sources listed in our documentation).

Instrument	Sounds	Concert C is written	Concert B♭ key is written
B♭ trumpet	major 2nd lower	D	C
B♭ clarinet	major 2nd lower	D	C
Soprano saxophone (B♭)	major 2nd lower	D	C
Tenor saxophone (B♭)	major 9th lower	D	C
Bass clarinet (B♭, treble clef)	major 9th lower	D	C
Cornet (B♭)	major 2nd lower	D	C
Flugelhorn (B♭)	major 2nd lower	D	C
Euphonium / baritone horn (treble clef)	major 9th lower	D	C
Alto saxophone (E♭)	major 6th lower	A	G
Baritone saxophone (E♭)	octave + major 6th lower	A	G
E♭ clarinet	minor 3rd higher	A	G
French horn (F)	perfect 5th lower	G	F
English horn / cor anglais (F)	perfect 5th lower	G	F
A clarinet	minor 3rd lower	E♭	D♭
Alto flute (G)	perfect 4th lower	F	E♭
Trombone (bass clef)	as written	C	B♭
Tuba (bass clef)	as written	C	B♭
Piccolo	octave higher	C	B♭
Guitar (notation)	octave lower	C	B♭
Bass guitar / double bass	octave lower	C	B♭
Glockenspiel	two octaves higher	C	B♭
Soprano (descant) recorder	octave higher	C	B♭

Tips

Remember one rule

If an instrument sounds lower than written, write its part higher by the same interval. If it sounds higher (like the E♭ clarinet, a minor 3rd), write it lower.

Octaves don't change chord names

Tenor sax sounds a major 9th lower (an octave plus a major 2nd), but its chord names are the same as for the B♭ trumpet. The octave only matters when writing notes on the staff.

Pick an easy key for horns

Songs in concert F, B♭ and E♭ give B♭ and E♭ instruments easy written keys. To move a whole song to a better key first, use the chord transposer, then transpose it for each instrument here.

Frequently asked questions

What is concert pitch?

Concert pitch is the actual sound. Piano, guitar chords, flute, violin and voice are written at concert pitch: a written C sounds as C. Transposing instruments read a different note from the one that sounds, so their parts are written in another key.

How do I transpose music for B♭ trumpet?

A B♭ trumpet sounds a major 2nd (2 semitones) lower than written, so write its part a major 2nd higher than concert pitch: concert C becomes D, concert F becomes G, and a song in concert B♭ is written in C. The same goes for B♭ clarinet and soprano and tenor saxophone.

How do I transpose for alto saxophone?

An alto sax sounds a major 6th lower than written. Write its part a major 6th higher (9 semitones), which gives the same letters as going down a minor 3rd: concert C becomes A, concert E♭ becomes C.

Is guitar a transposing instrument?

Yes, but only by an octave: guitar music is written one octave higher than it sounds, to keep the notes on the staff. The note names stay the same, so guitar chords never need transposing for other players. Bass guitar and double bass work the same way.

How do I transpose for French horn?

A horn in F sounds a perfect 5th lower than written, so write its part a perfect 5th higher: concert C becomes G, concert B♭ becomes F. The English horn (cor anglais) is also in F.

What does B♭ instrument or E♭ instrument mean?

It is the concert note the instrument plays when it reads a written C. A B♭ trumpet playing a written C sounds B♭; an E♭ alto sax playing a written C sounds E♭.

How do I read a piano or guitar chord chart on trumpet or sax?

Choose "Concert pitch" as Written for and your instrument as Show it for, then paste the chords. The tool writes every chord for your instrument and keeps it above the right word if the chart has lyrics.

Last updated: October 12, 2026