Klarinet Archive - Posting 000391.txt from 1995/08

From: Salvatore NARCISO <TMGUS!TMGUSPO!narcisos@-----.COM>
Subj: Basic Key Question
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 1995 04:53:00 -0400

Hello all,
I am a beginner sax player who has little musical experience but a lot of
enthusiasm. I am trying to figure out this whole transposition thing. As I
understand it, my alto is a Eb alto. It was explained to me by my music
teacher that the Eb relates to a piano's C key. So that, when I play a C on
my sax it really isn't the same note as a C on the piano. (At about this
point I'm nodding my head yes when I don't have a clue) I guess I'm
thinking in terms of frequency - I mean a C is a C because it has a certain
frequency, right? So if I play a Eb on the sax and it has the same
frequency as a C on the piano than it's not an Eb it's a C!
Can someone help me see the light?
(I can't wait to start doing transposition)