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Range of Instruments

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Ranges of Orchestral Instruments

This table is offered only to show general information about the performing ranges ofparticular instruments. There are a number of variations in the type and manufacture ofinstruments as well as the ability of different performers. More specific information can befound in Norman Del Mar's , Anatomy of the Orchestra; Gardner Read's , Thesaurus ofOrchestral Devices; Kent Kennan's , The Technique of Orchestration; and Philip J. Lang's ,Scoring for the Band. But, perhaps the best resource in a particular case would be theinstrumentalists of your ensemble.

Quicklinks: WOODWINDS - BRASS - PERCUSSION - KEYBOARD - STRINGS

INSTRUMENT CLEF(s)WRITTENRANGE(C4=middle C)

SOUNDING(transposition)...than written

COMMENTS

WOODWINDS

D4-C7

C: 1 octavehigherDb: minor 9thhigher

orC4-D7

Professional model flutes mayemploy a whichallows them to play 1/2 steplower.There are a few isolatedinstances of a low Bb in the fluteliterature but these are rare.

C4-C7a Perfect 4thlower

The is sometimesincorrectly referred to as a

There are also a number ofother designs for

which are not generallyused in an orchestra except forspecial situations.

Bb3-A6

Piccolo

Flute(in C)Querfloete

B-footjoint

Alto Flute(in G)

Alto FluteBass

Flute.low-pitched

flutes

Oboe



Bb3-E6a minor 3rdlower

B3-G6a Perfect 5thlower

written in alto clef at concertpitch in certain Russian scores. Itis similar in pitch and tone to theearlier instrument,

Here is a comparison of in this family.

/A3-G6 1 octave lower

E3-C7

Bb: a wholestep lowerA: a minor 3rdlowerD: a wholestep higherEb: a minor3rd higher

C3-G6a Perfect 5thlower

and Eb3(or C3)-G6

a 9th lower;a whole steplower whenwritten in bassclefTreble clef inBbtranspositionis preferredmodern

Professional models can playdown to concert B-flat belowthe bass staff (written C3).There are examples in theclassical literature, especially in19th century works, for BassClarinet in A or C and written inbass clef or a mixture of bass andtreble clefs. This is not advisablefor the modern composer asthese instruments are rare tonon-existent and this will only

Oboe d'amore

English Horn Oboe dacaccia.

threeinstruments

HeckelphoneBass Oboe

Clarinets(Bb-Eb-A)

Basset Horn

Bass Clarinet inBb



notation.cause problems for the playerinvolved.

Bb1-Eb5

Bb1-Bb4 1 octave lowerUse of tenor clef forcontrabassoon is rare.

Bb3-G6

Bb soprano: awhole steplowerEb alto: a 6thlowerBb tenor: a 9thlowerEb baritone: 1octave+6thlowerBb bass: 1octave+9thlower

At one time there were a familyof saxophones in F and C butthey are no longermanufactured.There also exist some

Quicklinks: WOODWINDS -BRASS - PERCUSSION -KEYBOARD - STRINGS

BRASS Clef(s) Written Sounding

(double horn)F#2-C6

a Perfect 5thlower

Horns may be written in anumber transpositions: C, D, Eb,E, F, G, A alto, Bb alto, Bb basso,B(rare)Among horn players,transpositions are spoken of interms of the Horn in F (ex. Hornin Eb is a whole step lower)Orchestral horns have a doubletubing system constructed forfundamental tones in F and Bb.However, some use

Tuben or Wagner tubas are

Bassoon

Contrabassoon(Sarrusophone)

Saxophones

exoticsaxophones.

Horn in F

a singletube system.



in Bband

in F

Bb: C3-G5F: F2-D5

: awhole steplower

: aPerfect 5thlower

played by horn players. Notethat valves are played with theleft hand.The sounding pitch of a Bb tenorinstrument playing from a partwritten in treble clef should be a9th below the written note.However, the practicalrealizations of hornists are notentirely consistent on this point.ex. Stravinsky, Rite of SpringTuben also have parts written inE-flat (sounding a 6th lower thanwritten) in The Ring of theNiebelungen.

F#3-D6

C: (as written)Bb: a wholestep lowerA: a minor 3rdlowerG: a Perfect5th higherF: a Perfect4th higherE: a major 3rdhigher

a minor3rd higherD: a wholestep higher

for a detailed explanation oftrumpet characteristics, see DelMar, Anatomy of the Orchestra

F#3-G5

Bb: a minor7th higherA: major 6thhigher

sometimes written F#4-G6Bb: sounding 1 step lowerA: sounding a minor 3rd lower

[cylindrical]

Clarino Trumpet: for baroqueperiod and earlier; before theinvention of valves.Trumpets with rotary valves aregenerally used for 19th centuryorchestral works.Trumpet in F: very common in19th century works.Bass trumpet: plays in treble clefin Bb or in *bass clef (sometimes

Tuben,Wagner tubas(double tubenshown here)

tenor in Bb

bass in F

Trumpet

Eb:

Piccolo Trumpet

ClarinotrumpetTrumpet with



Trumpet family:cylindrical andconical *see note regarding

clef for bass trumpet[conical]

tenor). Frequently played by atrombone player.

Bb Cornet: transposition andplaying range, basically thesame as Bb Trumpet. Often usedin pairs with trumpets.Flugelhorn: same as Bb trumpetbut not for upper range. Moremellow sound, softer.Posthorn: not generally fororchestral works but posthorn(with valves) is scored in MahlerSymphony No. 3.Pocket trumpet: in Bb, generallypoor sound and intonation.

A2-G5

Used primarily, but notexclusively, in 18th and 19thcentury German orchestralworks.

*treble (see note)

E2-F5

*a 9th lower,when writtenin treble clefas a Bbtransposinginstrument.

Pedal tones G1-Bb1 are possible.Use of the

engages an additionallength of tubing and facilitatespitches from F2 down to C2, orB1 with the F-slide extended.*British Brass Band music forTrombones in Bb is written intreble clef where the soundingpitch is a 9th below the writtenpitch.

Bb1-Bb4

Trombones, especially BassTrombones come in a variety ofdesign configurations accordingto manufacturer.

Although the name implies anoctave transposition - as incontrabassoon or contrabass -the contrabass trombone playsat concert pitch, notransposition. It is primarilycalled for in a few select works ofWagner, Strauss, Schoenberg

rotary valvesTrumpet in FBass Trumpet

Cornet in BbFlugelhornPosthornPocketTrumpet

Alto Trombone

Trombone(TenorTrombone)Trombone (novalve, straight)

valve called the F-trigger

Bass Trombone



Ab0-C5

and Puccini.Instruments are built withfundamental tones of F, E-flat,BBb, and others in first position.The shape and design variesfrom straight with slide handleextension to double valve anddouble slide models. The chioceof which instrument is mostappropriate in any givensituation is the players chioce.There is no standardconfiguration of tubing forContrabass trombones.

D1-F4

Orchestral tubas play at concertpitch regardless of the pitch of aparticular instrument.In the British brass bandtradition,

and tubas are written intreble clef.The Eb tubas sound 1 octave+a6th below the written note whilethe Bb tubas sound 2 octaveslower than written. The Bb tubasare technically BBb (double-Bb)tubas.The is a smaller, lighterinstrument primarily used forsolos.Prior to the invention of themodern tuba in 1835, the

may have been used.

, Bb1-Bb4 in

Bb: a wholestep lower inbass as a

Both the German style Tenortuba and English styleEuphonium are common. Theyare identical in pitch andtherefore interchangeable for allpractical purposes. This

should not beconfused with the or Wagner tuba (also called tenortuba) played by horn players,though they have a similarappearance. Note that valves on

ContrabassTrombone

Tuba

Eb Bb

F Tuba

ophecleide

Tenor tuba

instrumentBb F



sometimes tenor

basstransposinginstrument,a 9th lower intreble

the tenor tuba/euphonium areplayed with the right hand.When writing for this instrumentin bass clef, it is advisable tonotate at concert pitch. Tenorclef may also be used.In orchestral works prior to themid-20th century, theeuphonium written in bass cleffrequently employs B-flattransposition. This is notadvisable in modern notation.


PERCUSSION Clef(s) Written Sounding

standard set of 4drums

20": F3 C423": D3 A326 25": Bb2 F329 28": F2 C332 30": D2 A2

in some cases of older notation,timpani is written in C with theroot pitch indicated (ex. Timpaniin D) Some timpani,

, may have a geartuning mechanism.

F3-C71 octavehigher

(C2 to A2)-C7

also GlockenspielG3-C6

2 octaveshigher

when notes exceed the range ofthe instrument the effectivetransposition is 1 octave higher.The typically usedby marching bands is the sameinstrument but has two fewernotes on the bottom and three

Euphonium

Timpaniex. this high-

pitched drum

Xylophone

Marimbasome models of marimba haveextended lower ranges

Orchestra Bellsglockenspiel



fewer on the top; mounted in alyre-type frame.

F3-F6

C4-F5individual chimes may extendthe range of a standard set ofchimes

E3-E6 1 octave lower

Guitar, as with any stringinstrument, may extend theupper range depending on theplayer's ability.

Cb1-F#7

operate amechanism by which each pedalchanges the pitch of all of thestrings of that pitch class: D-C-B--E-F-G-A


KEYBOARD Clef(s) Written Sounding

A0-C8

C3-C71 octavehigher

This instrument is sometimesrefered to as the Mustel celeste incertain works of Tchaikowsky.Mustel was the originalmanufacturer.The issimilar in sound and appearanceto the celesta but smaller.

F1-F6

Vibraphone

Chimes

Guitar

Harp

Harp pedals

Piano

Celesta

Keyboard Glockenspiel

Harpsichord



F1-F6The harmonium is a smallportable organ.

grand staff + pedal staff

C2-C7 (ontracker organs)Pedals C2-G4(F4 on Germanorgans)

Manuals, aswritten (canbe 1 octavelower or 2octaveshigher withregistration);Pedals, 1octave lower(can be up to1 octavehigher withregistration.

These ranges also apply toelectronic organs that aredesigned to simulate pipeorgans; non classical electronicorgans often have shorter thanstandard manual and pedalkeyboards. (contrib. RandallWilkins)


STRINGS Clef(s)/Tuning Written Sounding

treble clef is alsocalled violin clef

G3-A7

notransposition,exceptingscordatura

C3-E6

notransposition,exceptingscordatura

C2-C6

The is similar insize to the cello but has 6strings. It may be played by acellist but usually by a gambaspecialist. It is used in baroque

Harmonium

Pipe Organconsole

Violin

Viola

Cello

Viola da Gamba



period music.

C2-C5 1 octave lower

Double basses occasionally playin tenor or treble clefs(rare).The lower range of a bass mayextend down to C by using a

. Somebasses have 5 strings toaccomodate the low C.

Symphony Orchestra Library Center ™ www.orchestralibrary.com

Double Bassmechanical extension

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