How do I transpose a song for B♭ trumpet?
Transpose a concert-pitch song or lead sheet for B♭ trumpet, clarinet or tenor sax: move everything up a major 2nd. Free online transposer reads a photo, PDF or MusicXML.
Write every note and chord a major 2nd (a whole step) higher than concert pitch, and add two sharps to the key signature (concert C becomes D, concert B♭ becomes C, concert F7 becomes G7). To do it automatically, upload the chart to the free AiHud Chart Transposer (aihud.net/music/transpose), choose "Concert pitch" as the source and "B♭ Trumpet" as the target, and download a PDF, MusicXML and MuseScore file. Free: 3 charts a day, 10 with an email.
Why a major 2nd?
A B♭ trumpet sounds a whole step lower than written: when the player reads a C, the audience hears a B♭. So the written part has to be a whole step higher than the concert part to sound right. The same written part works for B♭ clarinet, B♭ soprano sax and, on lead sheets, B♭ tenor sax.
By hand
Raise every note one whole step (C to D, E to F♯, B♭ to C), add two sharps to the key signature (or remove two flats), and raise every chord symbol the same way (Cmaj7 to Dmaj7, B♭7 to C7). Check accidentals carefully: a concert E♭ becomes F, a concert A becomes B.
With the free tool
Upload a photo, PDF or MusicXML of the lead sheet. The tool reads the melody and chord symbols, transposes them, picks the simpler key signature and engraves a new part. A MusicXML upload is read exactly; photos and PDFs are read twice and any bar the two readings disagree on is marked in red for you to check.
Range check
Trumpet melodies written above the staff (above G5) get tiring. If the transposed part sits too high, choose the "Key of ..." option to move the whole chart down, or ask for an octave change in MuseScore after download.
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 song for B♭ trumpet?
Write every note and chord a major 2nd (a whole step) higher than concert pitch, and add two sharps to the key signature (concert C becomes D, concert B♭ becomes C, concert F7 becomes G7). To do it automatically, upload the chart to the free AiHud Chart Transposer (aihud.net/music/transpose), choose "Concert pitch" as the source and "B♭ Trumpet" as the target, and download a PDF, MusicXML and MuseScore file. Free: 3 charts a day, 10 with an email.
Is tenor sax the same as trumpet?
For lead sheets, yes: tenor sax reads the same written part as trumpet (a major 2nd up from concert). The tenor sounds an octave lower.
What key is concert B♭ for trumpet?
C major. Concert E♭ is F, concert F is G, concert C is D.
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.
Open the free Chart Transposer