Theory: Instruments at MoleValleyMusic.co.uk

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Orchestral Musical Instruments and their Clefs

The following tables list the main orchestral instruments, listed in order of highest to lowest pitch.

The tables also show the main clef used by the instruments; additional clefs use are shown in italics following the + sign.

Finally, the tables indicate if the instruments are 'transposing' instruments. For example, if a French Horn plays a written C, it will sound like an F played on the piano: the piano is said to play in concert pitch or in C and the French Horn in F.

The table only gives the keys of the most common form of the transposing instruments. Some instruments (especially trumpet and, to a lesser extent, the other brass and some woodwind) are also made in other keys.

Brass

Instrument	Clef	Transposing
Trumpet	Treble	Transposing: in B-flat
French Horn	Treble + bass	Transposing: in F
Trombone	Bass + tenor	No
Euphonium (used in some of the larger orchestral works)	Bass	No
Tuba	Bass	No

Woodwind

Instrument	Clef	Transposing
Piccolo	Treble	Transposing: sounds an octave higher than written
Flute	Treble	No
Clarinet	Treble	Transposing: in B-flat
Oboe	Treble	No
Cor Anglais	Treble	Transposing: in F
Bassoon	Bass + tenor	No
Contra-bassoon (or double bassoon)	Bass	Transposing: sounds an octave lower than written

Strings

Instrument	Clef	Transposing
Violin	Treble	No
Viola	Alto + treble	No
Cello	Bass + tenor, treble	No
Double bass	Bass + tenor, treble	Transposing: sounds an octave lower than written

Percussion

Instrument	Clef	Transposing
Timpani (kettle drums)	-	No
side drum	-	No
Bass drum	-	No
Cymbals	-	No
Piano	Treble, Bass	No

Voice

Instrument	Clef	Transposing
Soprano	Treble	No
Mezzo-soprano	Treble	No
Alto	Treble + alto	No
Tenor	Treble + tenor, bass	If treble clef, the voice sounds an octave lower than written; this is often denoted by a small 8 placed under the treble clef
Baritone	Bass	No
Bass	Bass	No

The links below provide terms, including Italian, French and German, all needed to pass grade 5 theory.

Theory Pages
Main theory page
Grade 1 Italian terms
Grade 2 Italian terms
Grade 3 Italian terms
Grade 4 Italian and French terms
Grade 5 Italian and German terms
Performance directions for piano, strings and brass for pedals, bowing & mutes
Ornaments trill, mordent, turn, appoggiatura, acciaccatura, glissando, portamento
Degrees of the scale tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading note
ASBRM exam notes pass marks, exam durations, exam rules

Philip Bishop - theory lessons: 01372 454962 / 07950 235329

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