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This is the best explanation of transposing instruments I've ever seen.

He never explained a couple of fundamentals: Bb instruments handle music in flat keys better while A instruments work best in sharp keys. Yes, modern fingerings allow either types to play any notes but that doesn't mean those notes sound good—as any tenor sax player in a rock and roll band can tell you.

I don't want to break the news about professional piccolos in Db to this guy. Piccolos have a conical bore and, in many keys, this causes an unacceptably shrill overtone series. Db piccolos mess with this producing harmonics that can blend more easily. Although C piccolos have become more popular nowadays, this was not the case as late as 50 years ago when I was in college dating the school's principal flautist who explained this to me — her Dd instrument got a lot more use than the C back in the day.


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