transposing instrument

American  

noun

1. a musical instrument played at a pitch different from that indicated in the score.

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transposing instrument British  

noun

1. a musical instrument, esp a horn or clarinet, pitched in a key other than C major, but whose music is written down as if its basic scale were C major. A piece of music in the key of F intended to be played on a horn pitched in F is therefore written down a fourth lower than an ordinary part in that key and has the same key signature as a part written in C

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Etymology

Origin of transposing instrument

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Like the clarinet, the clarina is a transposing instrument, for which the music must be written in a key a tone higher than that of the composition.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various

Although the double bassoon is not a transposing instrument the music for it is written an octave higher than the real sounds in order to avoid the ledger lines.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various

The euphonium is treated by French and German composers as a transposing instrument; in England the real notes are usually written, except when the treble clef is used.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 8 "Ethiopia" to "Evangelical Association" by Various

It sounds an octave lower than the music written for it, being what is called a transposing instrument of sixteen-foot tone.

From How to Listen to Music, 7th ed. Hints and Suggestions to Untaught Lovers of the Art by Krehbiel, Henry Edward

For this reason the clarinet is called a transposing instrument.

From Music Notation and Terminology by Gehrkens, Karl Wilson