Orchestral Instrument Ranges
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to place each orchestral instrument on the map of pitches, and you'll know its clef and whether it sounds as written.
Danhauser ends his theory with a table of the ranges of the main instruments. Knowing these ranges helps you read an orchestral score, arrange and transpose, and simply know “where” each instrument plays. The ranges below are sounding pitches, what you actually hear, and they're approximate: most players can go a little higher, and the top of the range depends on the performer's level.
Woodwinds
| Instrument | Clef | Approximate sounding range | Notation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piccolo | treble | D5 to C8 | written an octave lower than it sounds |
| Flute | treble | C4 to C7, sometimes D7 | sounds as written |
| Oboe | treble | Bb3 to G6 | sounds as written |
| English horn | treble | E3 to C6 | in F, written a fifth higher |
| Clarinet in B-flat | treble | D3 to Bb6 | written a whole step higher |
| Bass clarinet in B-flat | treble or bass | about Db2 to F5 | in treble clef, written a major ninth higher |
| Bassoon | bass, tenor, treble | Bb1 to Eb5 | sounds as written |
| Contrabassoon | bass | about Bb0 to Bb3 | written an octave higher |
Brass
| Instrument | Clef | Approximate sounding range | Notation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horn in F | treble and bass | B1 to F5 | written a fifth higher |
| Trumpet in B-flat | treble | E3 to Bb5 | written a whole step higher |
| Trumpet in C | treble | F#3 to C6 | sounds as written |
| Tenor trombone | bass, tenor, sometimes alto | E2 to F5, plus a few pedal tones | sounds as written |
| Tuba | bass | about D1 to F4 | sounds as written |
Percussion, harp and strings
| Instrument | Clef | Approximate sounding range | Notation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timpani (set of four) | bass | D2 to A3 | sounds as written |
| Harp | treble and bass (two staves) | C1 to G7 | sounds as written |
| Violin | treble | G3 to E7 and beyond | sounds as written |
| Viola | alto, treble for high notes | C3 to E6 | sounds as written |
| Cello | bass, tenor, treble | C2 to A5 | sounds as written |
| Double bass | bass, with tenor and treble for high notes | about E1 to G4 | written an octave higher |
- Sounding range
- D3 to B♭6 (ré2 to si♭5)
- Clefs
- treble
- Notation
- sounds a major second lower than written
Sounding ranges, typical orchestral values: soloists often go higher, and some instruments have extra low notes.
Rank these instruments by their lowest note, from lowest to highest: violin, cello, viola, flute, bassoon.
Some of these instruments don't sound the notes they read. That's the subject of the next lesson, on transposing instruments. For now, test yourself with these questions.