All Questions
Tagged with instruments transposition
7 questions
17
votes
2
answers
30k
views
What is a transposing instrument?
I've read this term many times. However, I'm not quite sure of what it exactly is. What is a transposing instrument? What would be an example of one?
- 7,500
47
votes
6
answers
64k
views
What are the practical reasons for still having transposing instruments?
I understand that historically there was a need for transposing instruments. e.g. Brass instruments would use lead pipes to change their key and players in brass bands would like to stick to the same ...
- 728
21
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Could B♭ instruments be built in C? Why are they in B♭ in the first place?
Why did the clarinet and trumpet get made to 'be' in B♭? Could they have been made to produce concert pitch C?
This would make a composer's life so much easier when physically writing scores. ...
- 198k
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why are there transposing instruments that transpose by octave?
Some instruments (for example the guitar, the bass guitar, and the xylophone) have written music in a typical clef, however the note written and the note played are an octave lower or higher depending ...
Dom♦
- 48k
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Can I play an English horn part with a viola?
I want to perform music in class for a Shakespeare play. Can I play an English horn part with a viola?
- 69
51
votes
4
answers
11k
views
Why do instruments have a key?
There are many instruments that have keys other than C. For example:
The Eb Alto Saxophone
The Bb Clarinet
The Horn in F
Why do these instruments have a key in the first place? Here's a more ...
- 1,486
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Wind instruments and sharp keys
As far as I know, most of the wind instruments are transposing, and many of them are either in B, in E-flat or in F - these keys make them more suitable for playing in "flat" keys. My question is why ...
- 913