Posted by John Swadley on August 17, 2003 at 14:54:12:
In Reply to: French Horn Transposition Question posted by Andy Smith on August 17, 2003 at 11:35:16:
Treble clef F is written a fifth higher than the sounding note, so written C sounds F. Of course on the tuba you'll be playing an octave lower, making the total transposition an octave and a fifth. The bass clef was written in two different ways in the 19th century, one was written a fifth higher than sounding, so C in the staff gives an F below the staff. The other sounded a fourth higher, so written C in the staff gave F in the staff. This is more common for Schumann. Again, you'll want to drop the note an octave to keep the proportions. There are many great horn pieces that work well on F tuba, try the Sinigaglia Romanza and the Dukas Villanelle. Hope this helps, John. PS there are no good shortcuts for transposing F, it's better to learn which pitches sound which notes. This opens up a world of horn literature and solves a lot of orchestral chord playing with the horns.