changekey.to — transposing instrument quick reference

Concert pitch is the note as it actually sounds — what a piano or tuner plays. On a transposing instrument the note you finger is named differently. Tap the concert note the conductor called out, and this shows the note to play so it sounds right.

Look at the start of the staff: count the sharps (♯) or flats (♭) next to the clef. Use − for flats and + for sharps. You don't need to know the key's name — the count is all this needs.