How to Transpose for E-flat Instruments
E-flat instruments form the second major group of transposing instruments. When an Eb instrument player reads a written C, the concert pitch that sounds depends on the specific instrument: the alto saxophone and baritone saxophone sound a major sixth lower (Eb3 and Eb2 respectively), while the Eb clarinet sounds a minor third higher (Eb4). The key signature rule, however, is the same for all Eb instruments: the written key always has 3 more sharps (or 3 fewer flats) than the concert key.
The Transposition Rule
- Instrument Key
- E-flat Instruments
- Interval
- Major 6th (9 semitones) for alto/baritone sax; Minor 3rd up (3 semitones) for Eb clarinet
- Direction
- Written is a Major 6th (9 semitones) for alto/baritone sax; Minor 3rd up (3 semitones) for Eb clarinet above concert pitch
Concert Pitch to Written Pitch
Key signature rule for ALL Eb instruments: add 3 sharps (or remove 3 flats) to the concert key signature to get the written key. Concert C major goes to written A major (3 sharps). Concert Bb major goes to written G major (1 sharp). Pitch direction: for alto/bari sax, written note is a major 6th above concert. For Eb clarinet, written note is a minor 3rd below concert.
Written Pitch to Concert Pitch
Key signature rule for ALL Eb instruments: remove 3 sharps (or add 3 flats) from the written key signature to get the concert key. Written A major goes to concert C major. Written G major goes to concert Bb major. Pitch direction: for alto/bari sax, concert pitch is a major 6th below written. For Eb clarinet, concert pitch is a minor 3rd above written.
Worked Key Examples
Concert: C major — Written: A major (3 sharps)
Concert C major (no accidentals). All Eb instruments read A major (3 sharps: F#, C#, G#). Alto saxophone written A4 sounds concert C3 — a major sixth below. Eb clarinet written A4 sounds concert C5 — a minor third above. Both instruments read A major but their sounding pitches differ in register.
Concert: Bb major — Written: G major (1 sharp)
Concert Bb major (2 flats). Eb instruments read G major (1 sharp: F#). Remove 3 flats net (add 3 sharps): 2 flats becomes 1 sharp. Alto saxophone written G4 sounds concert Bb3. Eb clarinet written G4 sounds concert Bb4 — a minor third above G.
Concert: F major — Written: D major (2 sharps)
Concert F major (1 flat). Eb instruments read D major (2 sharps). From 1 flat to 2 sharps: add 3 sharps net. Alto saxophone written D4 sounds concert F3. Eb clarinet written D4 sounds concert F4 — a minor third above D.
Tips and Common Mistakes
Quick tip: For Eb instruments, the written key always has 3 more sharps than the concert key. The key signature rule is the same whether the instrument transposes up (Eb clarinet) or down (alto and baritone saxophone). The difference is only in the octave and direction of pitch displacement — both kinds of Eb instruments read the same key signature. The baritone saxophone sounds an additional octave below the alto — both read the same written part, but the baritone sounds an octave lower.
Use the circle of fifths to visualize key signature relationships. Each step clockwise on the circle adds one sharp; each step counter-clockwise adds one flat. E-flat Instruments transposition moves 3 steps clockwise (adds 3 sharps) on the circle.
Instruments in This Group
Transpose with Precision — Get Tunable.
Tunable's chromatic tuner shows exact Hz values in real time. Use Tunable to verify your transposition by comparing written and concert pitch frequencies for all 3 E-flat Instruments.
