FAQ's - Woodwind and Brass
Orchestra and Band Instruments
Transposing Instruments - Woodwind and Brass
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Go to Woodwind Family information pages.
Band instruments are often labeled as having a specific tuning- such as Bb, Eb, F, C, etc. Each tuning actually sounds a different pitch than the pitch that they are reading on the music. If for example a Bb instrument, such as a clarinet, would play from piano music (C tuning), different notes would sound. For example, a D would sound when reading a C from the music, for an Eb instrument an A would sound when reading a C from piano music. This is why individual scores had been transposed for each instrument in the orchestra. If the music for all instruments was written in C tuning, too many ledger lines would be needed for many instruments and the notes would be too far off the scale. That is why music scores and band instruction books have been transposed for the different instrument tunings. This greatly simplifies sight-reading.
Q. In what pitches are the various band and orchestral instruments tuned?
A. See the following - Instrument Key Chart.
| Key | Instruments |
| C | Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, "C" Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass |
| Eb | "Eb" Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, "Eb" Cornet, Alto Horn, "Eb" Bass |
| F | French Horn, English Horn |
| Bb | Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, Cornet, Baritone Horn, Euphonium, Bass |
Q. When tuning with my electronic tuner what pitch will show on the tuner, and what equivalent note will I be playing for each note shown on by the tuner?
A. When an electronic tuner plays a note it is the actual note shown on it's display. Transposed tuning can cause a problem when buying a tuner since all chromatic tuners are in the key of C. When the clarinet player, for example, plays an A the tuner will register a B, the pitch that actually sounds. When an alto sax player plays an A, the tuner registers F, the pitch that actually sounds. This can be very confusing. The chart provided here can be used to identify the transposition of the popular band instrument tunings. See Transposed Tuning Chart. [Below] *When a transposing instrument plays a note, it sounds the actual pitch that the tuner reads.
| Chromatic Tuner Reads the Pitch | C | C#/Db | D | D#/Eb | E | F | F#/Gb | G | G#/AB | A | A#/Bb | B |
| "C" Instrument Plays | C | C#/Db | D | D#/Eb | E | F | F#/Gb | G | G#/AB | A | A#/Bb | B |
| "Eb" Instrument Plays | A | A#/Bb | B | C | C#/Db | D | D#/Eb | E | F | F#/Gb | G | G#/Ab |
| "F" Instrument Plays | G | G#/Ab | A | A#/Bb | B | C | C#/Db | D | D#/Eb | E | F | F#/Gb |
| "Bb" Instrument Plays | D | D#/Eb | E | F | F#/Gb | G | G#/Ab | A | A#/Bb | B | C |
Brass Instruments
Q. What do the various sizes of brass mouthpieces mean?
A. Download this manual from the Vincent Bach Company. It is all you want to know about mouthpieces for Brass Instruments. http://www.selmer.com/products/accessories/mouthpiece/Images/bachmouth.pdf
Woodwind Instruments:
Q. What do the various facings of woodwind mouthpieces mean?
A. Generally these are the facings: No.2, medium close; No.3, medium; No.4, medium open.
Note: Not all manufacturers and brands offer all possibilities.
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