Transposing Instrument
An instrument whose notated pitch differs from the actual sounding pitch it produces.
Category
pitch
Pronunciation
/trænzˈpəʊzɪŋ ˈɪnstrʊmənt/
Origin
Latin (transponere)
Length
189 words · 1 min read
About Transposing Instrument
A transposing instrument reads one pitch on the page but produces a different pitch in the air. The most familiar examples are the B-flat clarinet (which sounds a tone lower than written) and the F horn (sounding a fifth lower).
More pitch terms
Tuning
View all pitchterms →The process of adjusting an instrument so its pitches match a chosen reference standard.
FrequencyThe number of sound-wave vibrations per second, measured in hertz, that determines how high or low a pitch sounds.
RisonamentoA rarely used Italian term for the sustained resonance produced by sympathetic vibration between strings
Enharmonic EquivalentTwo notes that sound the same pitch but are written with different letter names, such as F-sharp and G-flat.
TemperamentA tuning system that determines how the twelve pitches within an octave are spaced.
Synonyms
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →