Transposing Horn Music

[Mikebmiller]

It has occurred to me that if I could read horn parts, I have a boatload of quintet music that I could play all the parts on for fun. I understand that for F horn, the 2nd line on the staff is read on trombone as C. Is that the C 1 ledger line above the bass clef staff or the octave below it? And how does one adjust the key signature. I am used to reading trumpet music using the old "pretend it's tenor and add 2 flats" method, but I am not sure how to do this with horn music.

Thanks

[Kbiggs]

It’s called mezzo soprano clef. Pretend that the second line from the bottom is middle C, and add one flat. Watch your B’s and F’s.

The alternative is to turn around, stick your hand in the bell, play out of tune, and kack random notes, but no less than every 5th note so...

[AndrewMeronek]

F horns sound a perfect fifth below the written pitch. So, the written G in the treble clef translates to sounding middle C, which would be the first ledger line above the bass clef. F horn and trombone ranges are actually pretty similar, so most of the time playing a F horn part on trombone is quite feasible. Especially on a small bore horn, or if you really want to give your brain a workout, alto trombone.

[Kingfan]

I played in a quintet that couldn't find a French horn player so the leader asked me to take the spot. The leader, a retired band director, used software to transpose the horn part for trombone. It was a great way for me to expand my high range.

[harrisonreed]

I don't transpose it on the fly, but an alto with Bb attachment works so well as a replacement for horn in a quintet

[marccromme]

A small to medium bore tenor works very fine on french horn parts in F. A valve might make some things easier, so I used a YSL 356 G for it. You get easily used to the transposition, just practice easy stuff first, such that your brain has time to connect the dots. After a couple of weeks you will read it fluently. Have fun!

[Mikebmiller]

Thanks guys. I have been playing with reading some horn stuff tonight. I think I may get the hang of it pretty quick. I have found that thinking of it up one step to the bass clef note and then up an octave helps.

[BGuttman]

Some folks work better using an interval transposition (as you have) and others work better using a clef. Whatever works for you is good.

[dukesboneman]

I was told years ago to (and I hope I remember this correctly) play the part using Alto Trombone positions but your playing Tenor. I`ll try it today and see if it does work. Like I said that was a while ago.

[Mikebmiller]

I was told years ago to (and I hope I remember this correctly) play the part using Alto Trombone positions but your playing Tenor. I`ll try it today and see if it does work. Like I said that was a while ago.

My brain doesn’t work that fast.

[LeTromboniste]

I was told years ago to (and I hope I remember this correctly) play the part using Alto Trombone positions but your playing Tenor. I`ll try it today and see if it does work. Like I said that was a while ago.

No, that will make you play a fourth lower, not a fifth (unless we're talking alto in F)

What would work is the opposite, playing on alto trombone but using tenor positions, but that also requires reading the part an octave lower (i.e. octaviated treble Clef aka modern tenor voice clef).

But in my experience the most efficient and comfortable way to transpose is the one that involves the fewest steps in your brain, usually that's using a different clef or transposing by direct interval.

[Mikebmiller]

I am picking it up pretty fast. I have always loved the horn solo in the Kamen brass quintet, so I a working on an overdub version of that, playing all the parts on bone. It has been a fun few days trying to get it right.

[Arrowhead]

Looking at F Horn music, the 2nd ledger line from the bottom becomes Middle C. Then you just add one flat to the key signature.