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