English Horn
Quick Facts
- Instrument Key
- F
- Transposition Interval
- Perfect 5th down
- Written C sounds as
- F3
- Instrument Family
- woodwind
- Instrument Page
- English Horn on Tunable
Written vs. Sounding Pitch — Frequency Table
Each row shows a written pitch (as it appears in the score) and the concert-pitch note that sounds when played. Frequencies are equal temperament at A4=440Hz.
Key Signature Conversion Table
When the conductor names a concert key, this table shows what key signature the English Horn player reads. The player reads the written key; the audience hears the sounding key.
Practical Scenarios
Orchestra: Dvorak New World Symphony Largo Solo
The famous slow movement melody is in Db major (concert pitch). The English horn player reads Ab major (four flats) — a perfect fifth above concert pitch. Written Ab corresponds to concert Db. This is one of the most recognized English horn solos in the repertoire.
Oboe Doubling English Horn
An oboist switching to English horn must recalibrate transposition. The oboe is a concert-pitch instrument (no transposition). On English horn, written C4 sounds F3 — a perfect fifth lower. The fingerings are nearly identical; only the pitch reference changes.
Tuning to Concert A4 with the Orchestra
The oboe plays concert A4 (440 Hz) for tuning. The English horn player tunes their written E5 (659.25 Hz written, sounds A4 — a perfect fifth down from E5 = A4 concert). Written E sounds concert A on any F instrument.
Why Does the English Horn Transpose?
The English horn (cor anglais) is the alto member of the oboe family, pitched a perfect fifth below the oboe. Despite its name, it is neither English nor a horn — the name likely derives from "cor angle" (angled horn), referring to its early bent shape. The English horn has the same F transposition as the French horn — written C sounds as F3 — which means players of both instruments read concert pitch by transposing down a fifth. The instrument's distinctive dark, reedy tone makes it ideal for melancholic solos: Dvorak's New World Symphony (cor anglais solo in the Largo), Sibelius's The Swan of Tuonela, and Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture all feature prominent English horn writing.
Tune Your English Horn with Precision — Get Tunable.
Tunable's chromatic tuner shows exact Hz values in real time. Tune to equal temperament A4=440Hz or explore all 16 temperament systems.
Related Instruments
How to Transpose for F Instruments
All Transposing Instruments · Circle of Fifths · Keys Reference · Temperament Systems