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| INSTRUMENT | CLEF(s) | WRITTEN RANGE (C4=middle C) | SOUNDING (transposition) ...than written | COMMENTS |
| WOODWINDS | ||||
| Piccolo | treble | D4-C7 | C: 1 octave higher Db: minor 9th higher |
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| Flute | treble | C4-D7 | Professional model flutes have a B-footjoint which allows them to play down to B3. | |
| Alto flute | treble | C4-C7 | a Perfect 4th lower | |
| Oboe | treble | Bb3-A6 | ||
| Oboe d'amore | treble | Bb3-E6 | a minor 3rd lower | |
| English Horn | treble | B3-G6 | a Perfect 5th lower | written in alto clef at concert pitch in certain Russian scores |
| Heckelphone | treble | A3-G6 | 1 octave lower | |
| Clarinet | treble | E3-C7 | Bb: a whole step lower A: a minor 3rd lower D: a whole step higher Eb: a minor 3rd higher |
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| Basset-Horn | treble | C3-G6 | a Perfect 5th lower | |
| Bass Clarinet in Bb | treble or bass | Eb3(or C3)-G6 | a 9th lower; a whole step lower when written in bass clef |
Professional models can play down to concert B-flat below the bass staff (written C3). There are examples in the classical literature, especially in 19th century works, for Bass Clarinet in A or C and written in bass clef or a mixture of bass and treble clefs. This is not advisable for the modern composer as these instruments are rare to non-existent and this will only cause problems for the player involved. |
| Bassoon | bass and tenor | Bb1-Eb5 | ||
| Contrabassoon (Sarrusophone) | bass, tenor(rare) | Bb1-Bb4 | 1 octave lower | |
| Saxophones | treble | Bb3-G6 | Bb soprano: a whole step lower Eb alto: a 6th lower Bb tenor: a 9th lower Eb baritone: 1 octave+6th lower Bb bass: 1 octave+9th lower |
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| BRASS | Clef(s) | Written | Sounding | |
| Horn in F | treble or bass | F#2-C6 | a Perfect 5th lower | Horns may be written in a number transpositions: C, D, Eb, E, F, G, A alto, Bb alto, Bb basso, B(rare) Among horn players, transpositions are spoken of in terms of the Horn in F (ex. Horn in Eb is a whole step lower) |
| Tuben, Wagner tubas | treble or bass | Bb: C3-G5 F: F2-D5 |
tenor in Bb: a whole step lower bass in F: a Perfect 5th lower |
Tuben or Wagner tubas are played by horn players. The sounding pitch of a Bb tenor instrument playing from a part written in treble clef, should be a 9th below the written note. However, the practical realizations of hornists are not entirely consistent on this point. ex. Stravinsky, Rite of Spring Tuben also have parts written in E-flat (sounding a 6th lower than written) in The Ring of the Niebelungen. |
| Trumpet | treble | F#3-D6 | C: (as written) Bb: a whole step lower A: a minor 3rd lower G: a Perfect 5th higher F: a Perfect 4th higher E: a major 3rd higher Eb: a minor 3rd higher D: a whole step higher |
for a detailed explanation of trumpet characteristics, see Del Mar, Anatomy of the Orchestra |
| Piccolo trumpet | treble | F#3-G5 | Bb: a minor 7th higher A: major 6th higher |
sometimes written F#4-G6 Bb: sounding 1 step lower A: sounding a minor 3rd lower |
| Alto Trombone | alto | A2-G5 | Used primarily, but not exclusively, in 18th and 19th century German orchestral works. | |
| Trombone | alto, tenor, bass *treble (see note) |
E2-F5 | *a 9th lower, when written in treble clef as a Bb transposing instrument. | Pedal tones G1-Bb1 are possible. Use of the F-trigger facilitates pitches from F2 down to C2, or B1 with the F-slide extended. *British Brass Band music for Trombones in Bb is written in treble clef where the sounding pitch is a 9th below the written pitch. |
| Bass Trombone | bass | Bb1-Bb4 | ||
| Contrabass Trombone | bass | Ab0-C5 | Although the name implies an octave transposition - as in contrabassoon or contrabass - the contrabass trombone plays at concert pitch, no transposition. It is primarily called for in a few select works of Wagner, Strauss, Schoenberg and Puccini. Instruments are built with fundamental tones of F, E-flat, BBb, and others in first position. The shape and design varies from straight with slide handle extension to double valve and double slide models. The chioce of which instrument is most appropriate in any given situation is the players chioce. |
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| Tuba | bass | D1-F4 | Orchestral tubas play at concert pitch regardless of the pitch of a particular instrument. In the British brass band tradition, Eb and Bb tubas are written in treble clef. The Eb tubas sound 1 octave+a 6th below the written note while the Bb tubas sound 2 octaves lower than written. The Bb tubas are technically BBb (double-Bb) tubas. |
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| Tenor tuba, Euphonium | bass or treble, sometimes tenor | Bb1-Bb4 in bass | Bb: a whole step lower in bass as a transposing instrument, a 9th lower in treble |
This instrument should not be confused with the Bb Tenor Tuba (tuben) played by horn players. When writing for this instrument in bass clef, it is advisable to notate at concert pitch. Tenor clef may also be used. In orchestral works prior to the mid-20th century, the euphonium written in bass clef frequently employs B-flat transposition. |
| PERCUSSION | Clef(s) | Written | Sounding | |
| Timpani | bass | 20": F3-C4 23": D3-A3 26-25": Bb2-F3 29-28": F2-C3 32-30": D2-A2 |
in some cases of older notation, timpani is written in C with the root pitch indicated (ex. Timpani in D) | |
| Xylophone | treble | G4-C7 | 1 octave higher | |
| Marimba | treble, bass, or grand staff | (C2 to A2)-C7 | some models of marimba have extended lower ranges | |
| Glockenspiel | treble | G3-C6 | 2 octaves higher | when notes exceed the range of the instrument the effective transposition is 1 octave higher |
| Vibraphone | treble | F3-F6 | ||
| Chimes | treble | C4-F5 | individual chimes may extend the range of a standard set of chimes | |
| Guitar | treble | E3-E6 | 1 octave lower | |
| Harp | grand staff | Cb1-F#7 | ||
| KEYBOARD | Clef(s) | Written | Sounding | |
| Piano | grand staff | A0-C8 | ||
| Celesta | grand staff | C3-C7 | 1 octave higher | This instrument is sometimes refered to as the Mustel celeste in certain works of Tchaikowsky. Mustel was the original manufacturer. |
| Harpsichord | grand staff | F1-F6 | ||
| Harmonium | grand staff | F1-F6 | ||
| Pipe Organ | grand staff + pedal staff |
C2-C7 (on tracker organs) Pedals C2-G4 (F4 on German organs) |
Manuals, as written (can be 1 octave lower or 2 octaves higher with registration); Pedals, 1 octave lower (can be up to 1 octave higher with registration. | These ranges also apply to electronic organs that are designed to simulate pipe organs; non classical electronic organs often have shorter than standard manual and pedal keyboards. (contrib. Randall Wilkins) |
| STRINGS | Clef(s) | Written | Sounding | |
| Violin | treble | G3-A7 | no transposition, excepting scordatura | |
| Viola | alto, treble | C3-E6 | no transposition, excepting scordatura | |
| Cello | bass, tenor, treble |
C2-C6 | ||
| Double Bass | bass | C2-C5 | 1 octave lower | Double basses occasionally play in tenor or treble clefs(rare) |
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