How to tranpose a Clarinet solo to sax ?

[MB-913]

1) Clarinet - What key for insturment ? C ?

2) If I transpose Clarinet solo to alto/ soprano, how many semi-note should I add/ reduce?

Thanks.

[Transcriber-arranger]

The common clarinet is in Bb. That mean that when you play a C on clarinet, the sound produced is actually a Bb on the piano, guitar, trombone, bass, and other C instruments. Soprano sax, tenor sax, and trumpet are also Bb instruments in the same key as the clarinet.

Alto sax is in Eb. That means that when you play a C on alto, the sound produced is actually an Eb. The only other common instrument that is in Eb is the baritone sax.

To answer your question . . . To transpose from Bb clarinet to Eb alto sax, you must transpose up a perfect fifth (seven semitones) or down a perfect fourth (five semitones). Thus a C for Bb clarinet becomes a G for alto sax.