Topmusicanswers
Modern notation The horn is a transposing instrument and unlike the trumpet sounds deeper than written in all tunings. The modern horn is notated in F; in bass clef and treble clef it is written a fifth higher than it sounds.
How do you notate a French horn?
The French horn actually sounds a perfect 5th lower than its written note. In other words, if you write the note G for the French horn, it will play the C a perfect 5th below that G: Therefore, when we write for the French horn, we notate its part a perfect 5th higher than how it will actually sound.
What clef is the French horn?
Horns are generally written in treble clef, though if you're writing a low passage of any length—like from the F below Middle C down—you can switch to bass clef, as horn players read both.
