Horn Transposition Reference Chart

KEY INTERVAL* OCCURRENCE EXAMPLE*

Horn in C (alto) up P5 Rare

Horn in B-flat (alto) up P4 Less Common

Horn in A (alto)
up M3 Less Common
A – German; La - French, Italian

Horn in G
up M2 Less Common
G – German; Sol – French, Italian

Horn in F-sharp
Fis – German; fa dièse – French; up m2 Extremely Rare
Fa diesis – Italian

Horn in E
down m2 Common
E – German; Mi - French

Horn in E-flat
Es – German; Mi bémol – French; down M2 Common
Mi bemolle – Italian

Horn in D
down m3 Common
D – German; Re - French, Italian

Horn in D-flat Very Rare (symphonic)

Des – German; Re bémol– French; down M3 Rare (operatic)
Re bemolle – Italian

Horn in C
C – German; Ut – French; down P4 Fairly Common
Do – Italian

Horn in B-natural
H – German; Si – French; down TT Rare
Si basso – Italian

Horn in B-flat (basso)

B – German; Si bémol – French; down P5 Fairly Common
Si bemolle – Italian

Horn in A (basso)
Very Rare (symphonic)
A – German; La – French; down m6 Common (operatic)
La basso – Italian

Horn in A-flat (basso) Very Rare (symphonic)

As – German; La bémol – French; down M6 Common (operatic)
La bemolle basso – Italian

* Based on a valved horn pitched in F.

French horn transposition chart

Bruce Hembd, hornmatters.com