How do I transpose a chart for E♭ alto sax?
Transpose a concert chart for E♭ alto or baritone sax: up a major 6th (down a minor 3rd), chord symbols included. Free online transposer for photos, PDFs and MusicXML.
Move every note and chord symbol up a major 6th, which on paper is the same as down a minor 3rd and then up an octave (concert C becomes A, concert F7 becomes D7, a song in concert B♭ is in G for alto). The key signature gains three sharps or loses three flats. To do it automatically, upload the chart to the free AiHud Chart Transposer (aihud.net/music/transpose) and pick "E♭ Alto Sax"; it returns a PDF, MusicXML and MuseScore file. Free: 3 charts a day, 10 with an email.
Why a major 6th?
An E♭ alto sax sounds a major 6th lower than written: a written C sounds as the E♭ below. The written part therefore sits a major 6th above concert. Baritone sax reads the same written part and sounds an octave lower still.
Chord charts
For a chord chart with no melody, transpose each chord root down a minor 3rd: C to A, F to D, B♭ to G, E♭ to C, A♭ to F. Keep the chord quality (m7, maj7, 7♭9) unchanged.
With the free tool
Upload the lead sheet as a photo, PDF or MusicXML, choose what it is written for (usually concert pitch) and "E♭ Alto Sax" or "E♭ Baritone Sax". The tool keeps the melody in a readable octave, transposes the chord symbols and engraves a fresh part. Bars it is unsure about are marked in red.
From a B♭ part to alto
If you only have a B♭ (trumpet or tenor) part, set the source to B♭ instrument and the target to E♭ Alto Sax. The tool goes through concert pitch for you.
Quick reference: concert pitch to B♭, E♭ and F
| Instrument | Written vs concert | Concert C becomes | Concert B♭ (key) becomes | Concert F7 becomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B♭ trumpet, clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax | a major 2nd up | D | C | G7 |
| E♭ alto sax, baritone sax | a major 6th up (minor 3rd down) | A | G | D7 |
| F horn | a perfect 5th up | G | F | C7 |
| Trombone, bass, cello | concert pitch, bass clef | C | B♭ | F7 |
| A clarinet | a minor 3rd up | E♭ | D♭ | A♭7 |
| E♭ trumpet, E♭ soprano clarinet | a minor 3rd down | A | G | D7 |
| D trumpet | a major 2nd down | B♭ | A♭ | E♭7 |
| Alto flute in G | a perfect 4th up | F | E♭ | B♭7 |
Tenor sax and baritone sax actually sound an octave lower than trumpet and alto, but lead sheets for them are written exactly like the trumpet and alto parts.
Honest limits
- Single-staff music only (lead sheets, melody parts); piano and full scores are not supported yet.
- MusicXML uploads are exact. PDFs and photos are read twice; bars where the readings disagree are marked in red to check.
- Repeats, codas and first/second endings come through as plain bars.
- 3 free charts a day, 10 with an email.
Questions
How do I transpose a chart for E♭ alto sax?
Move every note and chord symbol up a major 6th, which on paper is the same as down a minor 3rd and then up an octave (concert C becomes A, concert F7 becomes D7, a song in concert B♭ is in G for alto). The key signature gains three sharps or loses three flats. To do it automatically, upload the chart to the free AiHud Chart Transposer (aihud.net/music/transpose) and pick "E♭ Alto Sax"; it returns a PDF, MusicXML and MuseScore file. Free: 3 charts a day, 10 with an email.
What key is concert F for alto sax?
D major. Concert B♭ is G, concert E♭ is C, concert C is A.
Is alto sax the same transposition as baritone sax?
Yes on paper: both are E♭ instruments and read the same written part; the baritone sounds an octave lower.
Are chord symbols transposed too?
Yes. Chord symbols move with the melody, so a concert Bb7 becomes C7 on a B♭ part and G7 on an E♭ part.
Can it read a phone photo?
Yes, but a PDF or MusicXML file is more accurate. Printed lead sheets photographed flat, close and in focus work best. Low-resolution or blurry photos are refused (it does not use up a free chart). Every chart is read twice and any bar the two readings disagree on is marked in red for you to check.
Which instruments are supported?
B♭ trumpet, clarinet, soprano and tenor sax; E♭ alto and baritone sax; F horn and English horn; A clarinet; D and E♭ trumpet; E♭ soprano clarinet; alto flute in G; baritone/euphonium in treble clef (B♭); concert pitch in treble or bass clef, viola (alto clef) and tuba. For anything else use Custom: any key, any interval, any clef.
Try it on your chart
Snap a photo of a lead sheet (or upload a PDF or MusicXML), pick the instrument, and get a clean, engraved part with the melody and the chord symbols transposed. Or go custom: any key, up or down by semitones, an octave shift and the clef you read. PDF + MusicXML + MuseScore file, free.
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