frequency orchestral instruments

7/31/2019 Frequency Orchestral Instruments

1/5

Playing Ranges of Instruments

Instrument Lower Limit Approx. Upper Limit

Violin G3(196.0 Hz) E7(2637.0 Hz)Viola C3(130.8 Hz) C6(1046.5 Hz)

Cello C2(65.4 Hz) E5(659.3 Hz)

Double Bass E1(41.2 Hz) B3(246.9 Hz)

Flute C4 (261.6 Hz) C7(2093.0 Hz)

Oboe Bb3(233 Hz) F6(1396.9 Hz)

English Horn Eb3(155.6 Hz) Bb5(932.3 Hz)

Clarinet(Bb) D3(146.8 Hz) Bb6(1864.7 Hz)

Bass Clarinet(Bb) D2(73.4 Hz) F5(698.5 Hz)

Bassoon Bb1(58.3 Hz) Bb5(932.3Hz)

Contrabassoon Bb0(29.1Hz) Eb3(155.6 Hz)

Horn(double, F & Bb) B1(61.7 Hz) F5(698.5 Hz)

Trumpet (Bb) E3(164.8 Hz) Bb5(932.3Hz)

Trombone(tenor) E2(82.4 Hz) Bb4(466.2 Hz)

Trombone(bass) B1(61.7 Hz) Bb4(466.2 Hz)

Timpani F2(87.3 Hz) F4(349.2 Hz)

Harp B0(30.9 Hz) G#7(3322.4 Hz)

References: Rossing, Science of Sound, p 219, White & White p 280

Musical Acoustics Applications

Index

Musical

acousticsapplications

Musical

acoustics

applications

References

Rossing

White &White

HyperPhysics***** SoundR

NaveGo Back
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musinscon.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musinscon.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://history.go%28-1%29/http://history.go%28-1%29/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/piano.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musinscon.html#c2


2/5

Formant Frequencies

These formant frequencies in Hertz for orchestral instruments are

suggested by Backus, Ch 6, Table I.

Instrument Formant I Formant II

Flute 800 ...

Oboe 1400 3000

English Horn 930 2300

Clarinet 1500-1700 3700-4300

Bassoon 440-500 1220-1280

Trumpet 1200- 1400 2500

Trombone 600-800 ...

Tuba 200-400 ...

French Horn 400-500 ...

A formant is a favored frequency range of a musical instrument,

demonstrated by a peak in theharmonic spectrumof the sound of theinstrument. This favored frequency may stay essentially the same even if

the fundamental is continually changing. The relative stability of thefavored frequency with changing fundamental pitch may be associated

with some sort of resonance. But asWolfehas pointed out, the resultantfavored frequency is not in general equal to a specific resonant frequency

of the structure, though resonances are part of the determining causes.Since the confluence of several factors may influence the actual peaks of

the harmonic spectrum, perhaps the best use of the word formant is just asa term to reference the observed peaks.

The concept of formants is particularly important in understanding speech,since thevocal formantsprovide much of the distinction between

sustainedvowel sounds. Formants also occur with musical instruments,and are of particular note with woodwinds. For example,

thebassoonshows formant behavior over much of its playing range.

Musical Acoustics Applications Composition of the orchestra

Index

Musical


Orchestralinstrument

data

Reference

Backus

Wolfe,

Formants


NaveGo Back
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/timbre.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/timbre.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/timbre.html#c2http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/formant.htmlhttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/formant.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c3http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c3http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c3http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/basoon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/basoon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/basoon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musinscon.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musinscon.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/orchins.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/orchins.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://history.go%28-1%29/http://history.go%28-1%29/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/orchins.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musinscon.html#c2http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/basoon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c4http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/vowel.html#c3http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/formant.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/timbre.html#c2


3/5

Power Output, Musical

Instruments

Measured greatest power output

Source Power Output (watts)

Large orchestra 67

Bass drum 25

Snare drum 12

Cymbals 9.5

Trombone 6.4

Piano 0.44

Trumpet 0.31

Tuba 0.20

Double bass 0.16

Flute 0.055

French horn 0.053

Clarinet 0.050

The maximum acoustic efficency of an orchestral instrument appears to ba

about 1%. From Backus, p52.

Index

Musical

acoustics

applications

Orchestral

instrumentdata

Reference

Backus

HyperPhysics***** Sound RGo Back
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://history.go%28-1%29/http://history.go%28-1%29/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html


4/5

Nave

Composition of the Orchestra

The standard orchestra consists of four major families of instruments:

woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. The woodwind section usuallyconsists of two to four flutes, two to four oboes, two to three clarinets, and

two to four bassoons. The brass section consists of four to seven Frenchhorns, three to four trumpets, three to four trombones, and one tuba. The

orchestral strings are usually divided into twenty-two to thirty five violins,eight to fourteen violas, six to twelve violincellos, and five to ten

doublebasses.

Index

Musical


Orchestralinstrument

data

ReferenceBackus


NaveGo Back
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://history.go%28-1%29/http://history.go%28-1%29/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.htmlhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souref.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/macouscon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/music/musappcon.html#c1http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html


5/5

frequency orchestral instruments

Documents