instument key

[rjc3]

What does the instument key mean? Why does G on a saxaphone actually sound like A?

[jenky]

instruments such as the clarinet are transposed instruments. They will sound different to all the instruments in C when they play the same piece of music. The saxophone is probably a b flat instrument, so it will sound a whole tone lower. You don't normally notice because the music transcript will have been altered. If you play some brass instruments like the horn , then playing a C to a piano, will sound a fifth lower on the horn. hope that makes sense.