RangeFinder

Orchestral instrument ranges ยท Written pitch ยท Click to hear

teddix.io

Strings

Violin

๐„žG3A6
G3 โ€“ A6
โš A6โ€“E7: Above safe orchestral ceiling (A6)

Viola

๐„กC3D6
C3 โ€“ D6

Clefs: alto, treble

Cello

๐„ขC2E5
C2 โ€“ E5

Clefs: bass, tenor, treble

Contrabass

Sounds 8ve lower

๐„ขE2G4
E2 โ€“ G4

Clefs: bass, tenor

Woodwinds

Piccolo

Sounds 8ve higher

๐„žD4C7
D4 โ€“ C7

Flute

๐„žC4C7
C4 โ€“ C7
โš C4โ€“C5: Weak/breathy; accompaniment must be light
โš C#7โ€“D7: Shrill; avoid at soft dynamics

Alto Flute

Sounds P4 lower

๐„žC4C7
C4 โ€“ C7

Oboe

๐„žBb3F6
Bb3 โ€“ F6
โš Bb3โ€“D4: Thick/coarse; difficult to play softly
โœ–F#6โ€“A6: Impractical for orchestral use

English Horn

Sounds P5 lower

๐„žB3C6
B3 โ€“ C6
โš C#6โ€“G6: Loses characteristic color

Eโ™ญ Clarinet

Sounds m3 higher

๐„žE3C7
E3 โ€“ C7

Clarinet in Bโ™ญ

Sounds M2 lower

๐„žE3C6
E3 โ€“ C6
โš G4โ€“Bb4: Throat register โ€” neutral, weak tone
โš C#6โ€“G6: Shrill; intonation difficult

Clarinet in A

Sounds m3 lower

๐„žE3C6
E3 โ€“ C6

Bass Clarinet

Sounds M9 lower

๐„žC3G6
C3 โ€“ G6

Bassoon

๐„ขBb1Bb4
Bb1 โ€“ Bb4

Clefs: bass, tenor

โš Bb1โ€“Bb2: Difficult to play pianissimo
โš B4โ€“Eb5: Pinched, complaining quality

Contrabassoon

Sounds 8ve lower

๐„ขBb1Eb4
Bb1 โ€“ Eb4

Brass

Trumpet in C

๐„žE3Bb5
E3 โ€“ Bb5
โš E3โ€“G3: Lower register awkward for fast passages

Trumpet in Bโ™ญ

Sounds M2 lower

๐„žE3Bb5
E3 โ€“ Bb5
โš E3โ€“G3: Lower register awkward for fast passages

French Horn in F

Sounds P5 lower

๐„žB2F5
B2 โ€“ F5

Clefs: treble, bass

Tenor Trombone

๐„ขE2Bb4
E2 โ€“ Bb4

Clefs: bass, tenor

Bass Trombone

๐„ขBb1Bb4
Bb1 โ€“ Bb4

Cimbasso

๐„ขF1F4
F1 โ€“ F4

Tuba

๐„ขD1F4
D1 โ€“ F4

Percussion

Timpani

๐„ขD2C4
D2 โ€“ C4

Xylophone

Sounds 8ve higher

๐„žF4C8
F4 โ€“ C8

Glockenspiel

Sounds 2 8ve higher

๐„žG3C6
G3 โ€“ C6

Vibraphone

๐„žF3F6
F3 โ€“ F6

Marimba

๐„žC2C7
C2 โ€“ C7

Clefs: treble, bass

Tubular Bells

๐„žC4F5
C4 โ€“ F5

Celesta

Sounds 8ve higher

๐„žC4C8
C4 โ€“ C8

Clefs: treble, bass

Other

Harp

๐„žB0F7
B0 โ€“ F7

Clefs: treble, bass

Piano

๐„žA0C8
A0 โ€“ C8

Clefs: treble, bass