Transposing instrument

A transposing instrument is a musical instrument whose music is usually written at a pitch different from the pitch that it sounds. The difference between a transposing instrument and a non-transposing instrument is only in whether or not the music is written at its sounding pitch; there is nothing about the physical construction of an instrument that makes the difference. Instruments whose music is written exactly as it sounds are said to play in "concert pitch".

List of instruments by transposition

• Instruments in C 16va (sounds two octaves above what is written)
• Glockenspiel
• Instruments in C - 8va (sounds an octave above what is written)
• Piccolo
• Celeste
• Soprano recorder
• Tin whistle
• Xylophone
• Instruments in A♭ - high (sounds a minor sixth above what is written)
• A♭ piccolo clarinet
• Instruments in E♭ - high (sounds a minor third above what is written)
• E♭ piccolo clarinet
• Sopranino saxophone
• Instruments in D - high (sounds a major second above what is written)
• D piccolo clarinet
• Piccolo trumpet
• Instruments in C - unison (sounds as written; these are nontransposing instruments)
• Piano
• Vibraphone
• Flute
• Oboe
• Bassoon
• Alto trombone
• Tenor trombone
• Bass trombone
• Euphonium when written in bass clef
• Tuba
• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Instruments in B♭ (sounds a major second below what is written)
• B♭ soprano clarinet
• Soprano saxophone
• Trumpet
• Cornet
• Flugelhorn
• Instruments in A (sounds a minor third below what is written
• Oboe d'amore
• A soprano clarinet
• Instruments in G (sounds a perfect fourth below what is written)
• Alto flute
• Instruments in F (sounds a perfect fifth below what is written)
• English horn
• French horn
• Instruments in E♭ - low (sounds a major sixth below what is written)
• Alto clarinet
• Alto saxophone
• Instruments in C - 8vb (sounds an octave below what is written)
• Guitar
• Bass flute
• Double bass
• Bass guitar
• Contrabassoon
• Instruments in B♭ - low (sounds an octave and a major second below what is written)
• Bass clarinet
• Tenor saxophone
• Euphonium or Baritone horn when written in treble clef
• Instruments in E♭ - low (sounds an octave and a major sixth below what is written)
• E♭ contrabass clarinet
• Baritone saxophone
• Instruments in B♭ - super low (sounds two octaves and a major second below what is written)
• B♭ contrabass clarinet
• Bass saxophone

Note: Many instruments read different clefs upon different occasions, also brass instruments can often be written as transposing instruments in various times depending on the ensemble (usually in B♭ or E♭ plus adjusting for the octave of the instrument).

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