Phil,

The basic principle to keep in mind is to ask yourself "What note is heard when the sax plays a middle C".

For the tenor sax, what the player reads as a "C" sounds Bb. The musical distance from C to Bb is 2 semitones down. Therefore if one wants BIAB to match the tenor's pitch, it's got to be taken two semitones down. (As you've already stated.)

For the alto sax, what the player reads as "C" sounds Eb. The musical distance from C to Eb is up 3 semitones. Therefore to match BIAB with an alto's pitch, it's necessary to raise the music in BIAB up 3 semitones.

It doesn't matter that the music is written for a Bb sax because your wife will be seeing the written notes and playing them as written.

So, if the music's written in D, BIAB will need to play F; notated in Bb, BIAB will need to play Db (or C#); notated in F, BIAB will need to play Ab; etc.

Note: It's not straightforward if both tenor and alto want to play along together using a single book. The Bb sax would need to play the music 5 semitones higher to match the alto sax (or alto 5 semitones lower to match the tenor). Thus if the music is written in the key of C and the alto played as written, the tenor would need to transpose the music to the key of F. Since the Alto is the one playing as written, BIAB would need to be raised 3 semitones to be in the same key.

Hope all this helps,
Noel

Last edited by Noel96; 01/22/12 07:07 AM.
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