Which instrument is typically notated on treble or bass clefs and sounds a perfect fifth lower than written, with a general range of F#3–D6?

• A. French horn
• B. Trumpet
• C. Clarinet
• D. Trombone

Answer: (A)

Transposition and clef usage for wind instruments are being tested here. The French horn is described because it is pitched in F and sounds a perfect fifth lower than what is written. That means when a horn part shows a written note, the actual concert pitch is five steps lower, which is why horn parts can be written in treble or bass clef depending on the register, and why the general sounding range of the instrument sits around F#3 to D6. The trumpet and clarinet, by contrast, are in B-flat and sound a whole step (major second) lower than written, so their written pitches don’t align with a fifth-down transposition. The trombone, typically in C and often sounding as written (concert pitch) rather than transposed by a fifth, doesn’t fit the description either. The combination of a fifth-down transposition, flexible clef use, and the given range points to the French horn.