As a B♭ trumpet player, I’m comfortable transposing at sight and playing parts for other instruments in different keys and clefs.

But working back the other way, quickly telling a student which notes they should be playing from trumpet to their instrument… well, that takes a little more mental processing time. And I might get it wrong! So I’ve adapted my Transposition Matrix to align with the instruments in my school music program.

This is not a theory lesson, but a brief video demonstration that aims to demystify the world of transposing instruments for you. All of the notes played sound identical, but are written differently depending on the instrument.

Find the note you want in the chromatic scale for your instrument, and see how that same note appears written for the other instruments.

If you think this tool might help your students or other tutors, please send them the link.

Download and Print: Transposition Matrix – Amadeus Tutor Edition.

Some nice, understated backing lines for flugelhorn and tenor sax written for this song which peaked in the Top 20 in Europe, when released in 1990.

My transcription is true to the original recording. But I had a little time so I added some minor variations to it for our collab project, to give the horns a tiny bit more depth. This is where our recording differs a little from the original, and my transcription of it.

Resources:

• The Beautiful South – A Little Time collab video.
• The Beautiful South – A Little Time flugelhorn & tenor sax charts.

Transcribed by me and free for you to use.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

I transcribed the horn parts of this pop hit for trumpet and tenor sax. Heard from about 2:12 on the embedded video.

Resources:

• Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar collab video.
• Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar trumpet & tenor sax chart.

Transcribed by me and free for you to use.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

I transcribed this beautiful arrangement earlier this year, not to play but because I was interested to see how the horns were voiced. It was an interesting exercise, even though I’ve still never played it. I’ve decided to share the full arrangement with you here instead.

In the original recording, used as my transcription source, Billie Holiday was accompanied by Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra with Doc Cheatham on trumpet. I’ve transcribed the horn charts accurately, but the bass track was too hard for me to hear on the recording, so its notated part was my own effort.

Resources:

• Billie Holiday – I’ll Be Seeing You: Score and parts for 3 horns (trumpet, alto sax, trombone) and rhythm section.

Transcribed by me and free for you to use.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

By request, I’ve published a further “transposition matrix” to include a number of orchestral instruments to supplement yesterday’s big band edition. Now, at a glance, you can see how notes on the B♭ trumpet are pitched differently from the flute, alto flute, clarinet in “A”, French horn, E♭ trumpet, violin, viola, and cello.

This is not a theory lesson, but a brief video demonstration that aims to demystify the world of transposing orchestral instruments for you. All of the notes played sound identical, but are written differently depending on the instrument.

Find the note that you want in the chromatic scale for your instrument, and see how that same note appears written for the other orchestra instruments.

Download and print: Transpose to and from Bb Trumpet: Orchestral Edition.

A minor update to the very first post on this blog… Now with a YouTube demo!

Puzzled about transposition? Why are notes on the trumpet pitched differently from other instruments even though the notes have the same names? What about alto sax, tenor sax, and trombone?

This is not a theory lesson, but a brief video demonstration that aims to demystify the world of transposing orchestral instruments for you. All of the notes played sound identical, but are written differently depending on the instrument.

Use this as your “transposition matrix”. Find the note that you want in the chromatic scale for your instrument, and see how that same note appears written for the other big band instruments.

Download and print: Transpose to and from Bb Trumpet: Big Band Edition.

Finally, after a drooling over this for nearly 40 years, I’ve had the opportunity to accurately transcribe the horn parts and record trumpet tracks for a cover of Midnight Oil’s “Power and the Passion”.

It was an absolute priveledge to play these iconic horn lines, including in the altissimo register for trumpet, and to be able to collaborate with the Powerderworkers – Midnight Oil’s global fan base.

Includes 2 trumpets, 3 saxes, and trombones. Authentically transcribed to the original 1982 studio recording.

Resources:

• Midnight Oil – Power and the Passion collab video.
• Midnight Oil – Power and the Passion horn section charts.

Transcribed by me and free for you to use.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Burt Bacharach’s composition was most famously recorded by Dusty Springfield, featuring in the 1967 James Bond parody Casino Royale.

I transcribed the tenor sax solo to record on flugelhorn.

Resources:

• Dusty Springfield / Burt Bacharach – The Look of Love – Tenor Sax solo.

Transcribed by me and free for you to use.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

I was asked to add some trumpets to this awesome song that wasn’t previously recorded with horns. Summer Breeze was composed and recorded by Seals & Crofts in 1972. Our recording was based on a cover recorded by Shaw Blades in 2007.

To bring a unique sound to our cover the trumpet lines supplement and provide extra oomph to the guitar lines. Here’s my transcription for 4 trumpets.

Our producer and guitarist, Igor, did an amazing job on the audio and video production. It’s great to be a part of something so polished!

Resources:

• Seals & Crofts / Shaw Blades – Summer Breeze – collab video.
• Seals & Crofts / Shaw Blades – Summer Breeze – Trumpet charts.

Transcribed by me and free for you to use.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.