Musical Instrument Range Chart

copyright 2002 rev, 1997 by Larry Solomon

The reference for this list of instrument ranges is the International Pitch Notation (IPN). Pedal tones are not included.

INSTRUMENT VOICES

CLEF

PROFESSIONAL RANGE

AMATEUR SOUNDS (transposition) RANGE

COMMENTS

Soprano

treble

Coloratura: C4-Eb6 Lyric: Bb3-C6 Dramatic: Ab3-C6 Mezzo: G3-Bb5 Contralto: F3-F#5 Countertenor: G3F#5 Lyric: C3-C5

C4-A5

as written

Alto Tenor

treble treble (open score)

F3-D5 C3-A4

as written 8ve lower in treble as written in bass

bass (short Dramatic: C3-Bb4 score) Baritone bass Lyric: A2-G4 Dramatic: A2-G4 Bass: F#2-E4 G2-E4 as written

Bass STRINGS Violin Viola Cello Double Bass Banjo Guitar Harp WOODWINDS Piccolo Flute Flute, alto Oboe English Horn

bass

cantante: F2-F4 profundo: Db2-D4 E2-D4 Contrabass: Bb1-G3

as written

treble alto bass, tenor, treble bass treble treble

G3-A7 C3-E6 C2-C6 C2-C5, also A2, B2 C3-A4 E3-E6

G3-G6 C3-C6 C2-G5 E2-G4

as written as written as written, but in treble clef may sound 8ve lower (Beethoven) 8ve lower as written (tenor sounds 8ve lower) 8ve lower as written

grand staff Cb1-G#7

treble treble treble treble treble

D4-C7 Bb3-D7 C4-C7 Bb3-A6 B3-G6

G4-A6 C4-C7

8ve higher as written P4 lower uncommon in amateur groups

C4-E6 B3-D6 P5 lower Bb: M2 lower A: m3 lower D: M2 higher Eb: m3 higher M9 lower; rare in amateur groups D, Eb are rare in amateur groups rare in amateur

Clarinet, all except bass Clarinet, Bass

treble

E3-C7

E3-F6

treble or

Eb3-G6

Eb3-C6

bass Bassoon Contrabassoon bass, tenor Bb1-Eb5 bass Bb1-C5 Bb1-Bb4

M2 lower in bass as written 8ve lower Bb sop: M2 lower Eb alto: M6 lower Bb tenor: M9 lower Eb baritone: 8ve+M6 lower Bb bass: 2- 8ves +M2 lower

groups

rare in amateur groups

Saxophone, all

treble

Bb3-G6

BRASS Horn treble or bass F#2-C6 C3-G5 P5 lower C: as written Bb: M2 lower D: M2 higher Eb: m3 higher Cornet in C: as written Cornet in A: m3 lower Bb Bass: M9 lower C Bass: 8ve lower Flugelhorn: M2 lower M6 lower E2-Bb4 Bb1-F4 E1-C4 as written as written, does not include pedal tones as written as written in bass; M9 lower in treble E2-Bb4 as written in bass; M9 lower in treble rare in amateur groups

Trumpets, treble all except Eb Bass

F#3-D6

A3-Bb5

use only Bb and C

Trumpet, Eb Bass treble Trombone, Tenor Trombone, Bass Tuba Baritone Euphonium PERCUSSION

F3-C6

bass, E2-F5 tenor, alto bass bass bass or treble bass or treble Bb1-Bb4 G0-C5 E2-Bb4 in bass Bb1-F5

Timpani

bass

1: C2-A2 2: F2-C3 3: Bb2-F3 4: D3-A3

as written

Xylophone Marimba Glockenspiel Vibraphone Chimes KEYBOARD Piano Celesta Harpsichord Harmonium Organ

treble

G4-C7 C3-C7

8ve higher as written 2- 8ves higher as written 8ve higher

grand staff (C2 to A2)-C7 treble treble treble G3-C6 F3-F6 C4-G5

grand staff A0-C8 grand staff C3-C7 grand staff F1-F6 grand staff F1-F6 grand staff C2-C7

as written octave higher as written as written as written