How to Transpose a Piano to a Trumpet
The piano plays in concert pitch while the trumpet plays in the key of Bb. This means that when a trumpet player plays a C they are actually playing a Bb. Transposing from the piano creates additional practical problems as well. Since the trumpet has a limited range in relation to the piano, some notes on the piano may need to transpose up an octave or two into the range of the trumpet.
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Instructions
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Study and memorize the chromatic scale. This scale consists of 12 pitches and five enharmonic pitches. Enharmonic pitches are pitches that sound the same but are written differently. C#, D#, F#, G# and A# are enharmonic equivalents to Db, Eb, Gb, Ab and Bb.
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Transpose the notes in the piano part up a major second. A major second consists of two half-steps and one note name. This means that an Ab is written as a Bb in trumpet music.
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Check the range of the transposed part. If the transposed music goes lower than F# below middle C or higher than two octaves above middle C, you should change the notes by an octave to fit the trumpet register.
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Tips & Warnings
Correct transpositions involve changing the pitch by one note name and two half steps. While a Gb transposed to a G# would be correct aurally, it is the wrong pitch and should be notated as Ab.
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