Quote:
Originally Posted by Mycroft
Steven, what makes it (or anything, I guess) a "C" instrument? Your link is just a list.
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It has to do with a comparison of the pitch the instrument creates and the corresponding pitch as written in standard music notation. If they are the same then the instrument is a non-transposing instrument aka a C instrument. Thus if you play a C pitch/note written in standard notation on a staff, a C instrument will generate a C pitch. A Bb instrument will generate a Bb pitch, even though the note on the staff is written as a C pitch.
The guitar is actually transposed one octave up in standard notation. It's middle C pitch is written on the third space of the treble clef staff, whereas a middle C pitch for a piano is written on the first ledger line below the treble clef staff.