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Re: Transposition question?

Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2007-01-19 07:33

mk wrote:

> Trade your alto clarinet for a soprano clarinet and your world
> will change....you need a teacher my friend to give you
> direction...you are all over the place...

And why should he do that? (I mean, trade the alto in, not necessarily not have a teacher -- although as far as that goes, if / when he gets frustrated enough, he can find a teacher). If he's going to read from scores, he's going to have to transpose anyway, if he wants to sound in "correct" pitch, or play along with the piano, unless he gets a C clarinet.

John, the alto clarinet is an Eb pitched instrument. The written note when played on the alto clar will sound a minor third above the true (piano) pitch. Therefore, to play the alto clarinet at true pitch, you need to play down two steps and subtract three flats / add three sharps as appropriate; i.e., your five flat key signature becomes a two flat key sig. Since notes on the bass clef are already written down two steps from where they are on the treble clef, you can play the bass clef line at true pitch just by changing the key sig. Of course, if you are playing by yourself, you can read the treble just as it is, and it will sound fine but will be pitched higher than it's really written, though I must inform you, five flats is usually a bit hard for a beginner