i`m composing a piano concerto but the only problem is when you play a C on the piano i dont know what the other instruments will be in. e.g i think that when you play a C on a piano a clarrinetist plays a Bb, or something like that. please could you help as the song in my head needs to come out. thanx

i also need transposition. thanx

I cannot help you. But I hate it when no one answers my questions so I thought I`d give you something to read. Sorry.
Pianoman5

thankyou anyway

Actually I think that when you play a C on the piano the Bb instruments play a D. When I was in showband I had to transpose all of the Tenor Sax music to Flute- and found I had did it wrong. You can find transposition charts on the internet. Try:

http://www.geocities.com//Athens/Marble/9607/transpose.htm

I mean http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Marble/9607/transpose.htm

Is the concerto in a key? If so, what key is it in?

well honestly, if you haven`t learned about orchestration and transpositional instruments, you really shouldn`t be writing a "piano concerto". But your attempt and determination are commandable.

Well examples of transpositional inst. are clarinets, saxophones, trumpets/cornets, (French) horn, piccolo and so on and on. Within each instrument family individual instrument also transposes differently. For example there are the Eb soprano clarinet, A clarinet, auto clarinet, bass clarinet, Contra auto and contra bass clarinets (and basset horn).

To make long story short, when a soprano clarinet plays a C on the written score, the sound will come out to be the Eb right above it; Transposes a minor thrid up. So if you want the soprano Eb clarinet to SOUND a C, you need to write it in the opposite direction -- down a minor third, the A below the C. So when it tranposes it will go up to C. Clear?

Other Clarinets: auto clarinet sounds a M6 lower than written, bass clarinet sounds a M9 lower than written, contra auto and contra bass each adds another octave lower.

It will be very helpful if you find a chart or ask a music teacher. Good luck.

ps. well, a lazy trick would be using computer softwares like FINALE or SIBELIUS. Compose in concert pitch and let the computer do rest of the transposition...though it will not help you read scores in the future.

the key is in A major, i alredy know how it sounds i just need to put it down on paper.

Actually quite opp. really. Say if yr instrument transposes a major 2nd down, ie. clarinet, then u`ll need to draw a dnote ( open score ) to sound as a c note ( concert pitch ). Hope u understand. And oh btw, pls. remember that all horns transposes downwards...except when in the bass clef.

If te key is Amajor...then u need to adjust the key signatures for the transposing instruments...ie: concert pitch is A major, so clarinet in Bflat will have to have a key signature of B major on the score. U cannot draw the A major key signatures, as when after they transposed, one can`t expect the pitch to be the same. Just remember this helpful hint: work in the reverse direction.

If it is in A major, you should use the A rather than the Bb clarinet- which sounds a minor 3rd lower than written, giving it a key signature of C major rather than B major, making things a LOT easier for the clarinettist.