Transposition / Baritone sax
Baritone sax transposition
Baritone sax transposition: written to concert pitch (with audio)
Written C on baritone sax sounds E♭, a major thirteenth (an octave plus a sixth) lower.
Written to concert pitch: every note
Tap ▶ to hear each note played on baritone sax.
| Written note | Sounds (concert pitch) |
|---|---|
| C5 | E♭3 |
| C♯5 | E3 |
| D5 | F3 |
| D♯5 | F♯3 |
| E5 | G3 |
| F5 | A♭3 |
| F♯5 | A3 |
| G5 | B♭3 |
| G♯5 | B3 |
| A5 | C4 |
| A♯5 | C♯4 |
| B5 | D4 |
Key signatures: concert key to written key
If the band is playing in the concert key on the left, this is the key the baritone sax part is written in.
| Concert key | Baritone sax written key |
|---|---|
| D♭ major (5 flats) | B♭ major (2 flats) |
| A♭ major (4 flats) | F major (1 flat) |
| E♭ major (3 flats) | C major (no ♯ or ♭) |
| B♭ major (2 flats) | G major (1 sharp) |
| F major (1 flat) | D major (2 sharps) |
| C major (no ♯ or ♭) | A major (3 sharps) |
| G major (1 sharp) | E major (4 sharps) |
| D major (2 sharps) | B major (5 sharps) |
| A major (3 sharps) | F♯ major (6 sharps) |
| E major (4 sharps) | C♯ major (7 sharps) |
Concert B♭ scale for baritone sax
Written notes for Baritone sax, one octave ascending:
Baritone sax transposition notes
Baritone sax is an E♭ instrument, the same pitch class as alto sax, so the two share a written key signature for any given concert key. The difference is the octave: bari sax sounds a full octave lower than alto sax for the same written note, a major thirteenth rather than a plain sixth.
That makes bari sax the lowest-sounding of the common transposing band instruments by written interval, and it is easy to mistake an octave error for a wrong note when checking a part by ear.
The key-signature shortcut carries over from alto sax directly: for the concert B♭ major scale, bari sax is written in G major, the same letters as alto sax, sounding an octave lower.
Baritone sax: concert pitch is a major 13th lower than written pitch (write a major 13th higher than concert to go the other way).
Frequently asked
What is concert pitch on baritone sax?
The actual sounding pitch. Baritone sax is a transposing E♭ instrument: written C sounds concert E♭, a major thirteenth (over an octave) lower.
Why does bari sax share E♭ with alto sax but sound so different?
Both are E♭ instruments and use the same written key for a given concert key, but bari sax is built and pitched a full octave lower than alto.
What is the concert B♭ scale for baritone sax?
Written G major, the same notes as alto sax, sounding an octave lower.
Is baritone sax key signature the same as alto sax?
Yes, both transpose to a written key three steps sharper (or three flats fewer) than the concert key, on the line of fifths; only the octave differs.
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