Finale Forum

As you all know, I am not a classically trained musician. Heck, I'm barely a trained one! And so, "concert pitch" and transposing instruments have me confused.

The piece is in Eb. There is one Bb clarinet line. My understanding is (and please correct me if I'm wrong) If the Bb clarinet plays a D on the sheet music, it will sound like the C on a non-transposing instrument. So: With "Display in Concert Pitch" checked, what key should the Bb clarinet show? If it's unchecked, what should it show?

Thanks!

For a piece in Eb, in Concert View, it should match the other instruments and be in Eb. In transposed view, it should be in F (1 flat).

Zuill

Mike,

If the piece is in Eb then the Bb clarinet will be in F and pitches will sound a step lower than they look. If you display in concert pitch, then the clarinet will be in Eb and pitches will sound like they look.

For any transposing instrument, if you play a C it sounds its name. So the Bb clarinet sounds a step below, the Horn in F plays a 5th below, etc. Sometimes the sounding note is above. That is the 10-cent tour of transposing instruments.

Bill

Thank you, both!

It’s really hand for many. Check the box, write in concert pitch. Uncheck the box, everything displayed as it should.

Yep, that’s how it should work subject to this and that. Paying attention to the range of the instruments helps a lot. Over the years, it’s not been the most reliable feature. I’ve not used it much.