Among the following, which instrument is commonly notated to sound as written (concert pitch)?

• A. Trombone
• B. French horn
• C. Bb trumpet
• D. English horn

Answer: (A)

Understanding which instruments read at concert pitch versus transposing pitch helps you predict what you’ll hear relative to what’s written. The trombone is written to sound exactly as it reads—no transposition needed—so it matches concert pitch. The others do not: the French horn is in F and sounds a perfect fifth lower than written; the Bb trumpet sounds a whole step lower than written; and the English horn is also in F and sounds a perfect fifth lower than written. Because of these transpositions, their written notes do not equal the sounding pitch. Therefore, the trombone is the instrument whose notation typically sounds as written.