pls help~~ my fren has alto sax scores and i need to transpose for trumpet use, so that we can play together i've asked around and done some research. the advice are different. some said i have to shift down by 2 semi-tones, some said +7 semitones, another said four whole steps down... i'm confused... can anyone help to clarify?

thank u v much!! )

When a trumpet plays concert Bb in band, the player is playing their written C (concert Bb)
The Alto Saxophone plays a G.

So you would need to play a 4th higher than your Eb saxophone player friend and add 1 flat.

thanks john!! just one more qn hope u dun mind... am i right to say that by right i shld be playing 3.5 higher (which is 7 semitones) but becos i'm going to add a flat, i can juz up it a fourth? and up a fourth means up two lines or two spaces right? thanks so much!! sorry, this is my first try at transposing...

Glad you asked - you are not so correct.

Put your hand in front of you, fingers spread out, palm facing you.
With your other hand take your index finger and place it on your ring finger.
(your hand is a treble clef - five fingers/five lines)
So, the ring finger is G. G to G is a Major 1st.
G to G# is a minor 2nd. to A is a Major 2nd, to Bb is a minor 3rd, to B is a Major 3rd, to C (the space between your index finger and middle finger) is a 4th.

You are only going up 5 semi-tones. So, from a line note you are going up a line, and then the next space. And from a space note you are going up a space, and then the next line.

When counting intervals you include the note your on as #1 (kind of like math, 1 multiplied by any number is the same number).

thanks john! cant thank you enuff... u put it so simple to understand!! i've surfed so much but no one can explain it as clearly as u... my practice with my alto-sax fren is tomorrow! i'll start transposing now! thankiu!