The range of a musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest, pitch it can play.
The range of a musical part is the distance between its lowest and highest note, either described by frequency or note.
Questions tagged [instrument-range]
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Why is the lowest note on the piano an A?
I've always wondered why almost every piano's lowest note is an A. In fact, I've never seen a piano whose lowest note is not an A, and I have also noticed that this pattern only occurs in pianos; most keyboards I've seen have a C or a G as lowest…
Lee White
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Why does a 97 / 92 key piano exist by Bösendorfer?
Pianos normally have 88 keys, ranging from A0 to C8. One of Bösendorfer's pianos go down to F below the low A. The other model goes down to C. How did this happen?
user53472
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Why is the clarinet able to play lower notes than the soprano sax?
The clarinet and the soprano sax are similar in size, but the clarinet is able to play much lower notes than the soprano sax. Why is this the case? I understand that when the clarinet is overblown the pitch goes up by a 12th, not an octave, which…
JJH
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Arabic Maqam Keyboard?
I have read that the Arabic maqam system has 24 pitches in an octave. Are there any instruments (keyboards especially) that have been made specifically to be able to play all 24 tones?
user205186
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Can someone clarify the range of orchestral strings?
The Wiki article lists a 27 note range for the violin, viola, 'cello, and double bass. The first three are listed as conservative estimates, and less so for the double bass. Am I correctly inferring then, that the range of a double bass is…
aeroNotAuto
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Terminology confusion between Range, Register, Ambitus and Tessitura
We use the terms range, register, ambitus and tessitura with regard to how high and low an instrument or vocalist can go. I'm not at all sure how or where the terms cross over, and indeed whether they all refer to voice, instrument, or music. There…
Tim
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Alto-ranged brass instrument?
As a high school French horn player I am wondering whether there is a brass instrument with a range similar to the alto saxophone. Although horn and alto are usually given the same parts the horn has a more tenor range (from about D2 to Eb5) and…
user205186
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Recorder bell question
I'm doing some research on the recorder, and I've got a little stuck on the range. Some says the soprano recorder's highest note goes to the 2nd octave only, but other people say that by adding a recorder bell the pitch can be higher.
What exactly…
xdd
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Max acceptable key range in piano chords?
I learning how to play the piano by myself, using an electronic keyboard and a software called Synthesia along with some books and online resources.
I am checking out some songs, and some have chords with a really long distance between keys. Like in…
Pacha
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French horn - Getting higher register
Does anyone know some good techniques or practises I can do to improve my high range on the horn relatively quick (like 2 months quick)? It can be for brass and doesn't have to be specific for horn- though preferred.
I changed my embouchure at…
starlly
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Trombone attachments, bore, and range
Contrast a straight tenor trombone versus a larger-bore tenor trombone with F attachment. It appears that the larger-bore with F attachment activated will go down to C2 without having to hit any pedal tones.
I find a Bb1 pedal tone hard to play…
maxpolk
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How does the flute range extend with experience?
I can play from C4 up to about half way through the second octave - the highest note I can (reliably) play would be around the G5. I cannot play C6, even when blowing as hard as I can.
I'm told being able to play the top notes is fairly advanced but…
Mr. Boy
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How do I transpose an orchestral piece if it will push some of the instruments out of their range?
Chord inversions seem to be the obvious choice, but sometimes it changes the overall harmony or disturbs the voice leading. Am I stuck with that key of whatever the orchestral piece is originally written?
David LE
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Why is the range of the great highland bagpipe so limited?
The Great Highland Bagpipe has a range of only one octave + one note. Why is the range so limited, and would there be a way to increase it?
axelotl
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Is the trumpet's theoretical range unlimited?
I'm more wondering about the upper register here, but I suppose this applies to pedal notes also. Is the trumpet's range theoretically unlimited? Is there anything (besides the player) that potentially could limit the range of the trumpet?
American Luke
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