Key signature issue
I'm writing out a duet for french horn in F major and when setting up with wizard, selecting the single flat. When the score appears there isn't a key signature. Is it transposing to C or something else crazy?
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Yes. The horn is a transposing instrument (F). Anything written for it in the key of F will look like C. Go to the bottom of the MuseScore window and check or uncheck the concert key square.
The F horn is a transposing instrument. If concert key is F, then the horn will show a key signature of C.
You can verify this by creating a blank score. In the New score dialog, select Choose instruments at the top. Select Horn in F from Brass and Piano from Keyboards. Then click the Next button. On the second screen of the dialog, set the Key signature to "F major", then click Done. The horn will be in the key of C (no sharps or flats); the piano in the key of F (1 flat).
If you want to compose for the Horn in F, then choose "Bb Major" on the New score dialog's second screen or hit the Concert Pitch button near bottom right on the score screen on your existing score.
In reply to The F horn is a transposing… by TheHutch
Horn parts, particularly older ones, often have no key signature. All sharps or flats that would otherwise be indicated by a key signature are instead indicated on individual notes. To use this {rather old fashioned) convention you can add an "atonal" or "open" key signature to the horn part. It looks like a grey X in the key signature pallet.
See https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/key-signatures#open-key-sig
In reply to The F horn is a transposing… by TheHutch
It’s possible that your notation software is automatically transposing the French horn part to its concert key (which would be C major if you set it to F major). Try checking the transposition settings or manually adding the key signature. Hopefully, it’s just a small setup issue—good luck with your duet! Writing a thesis felt overwhelming, and I was running out of time to meet my submission deadline. A friend recommended me to get thesis help online at Academized here https://academized.com/thesis-help and I decided to try it. The writer helped refine my research questions, provided strong arguments, and formatted everything correctly. My professor appreciated the effort, and I passed with a high grade. This service is perfect for anyone who needs professional guidance on their thesis!
In reply to Thank you so much for the… by OrienTrace
No need to use an open key signature. The same thing would happen if you were writing for Bb clarinet using the key of Bb. There would be no key signature in the clarinet part.
There is a tradition of no key signature in horn parts which goes back to the 1700's. At that time horns had no valves. Players had 8 or 9 different "crooks" of different lengths. Players changed crooks to be able to play the notes of the harmonic series in the key of the piece. D crook for a piece in D. So no key signature in any horn part as a result. Modern players will transpose these original parts as they play. Modern arrangements usually transpose horn parts much like any other transposing instrument parts. But there can be this horn traditional hang on.
In reply to No need to use an open key… by bobjp
"No need to use an open key signature."
There is if you want the score in any key other than F Maj/D min concert and still have the Horn in F part showing no key signature.