Instrument Range And Characteristics

Question 1

Piccolo

Answer 1

D4-B4: soft, hollow
B4-D5: progressively clearer
D5-D6: clear
D6-C7: bright
Above C7: Brilliant, piercing

Question 2

Flute

Answer 2

Practical range: G4-F6

C4-G4: soft, lush
G4-G5: progressively clearer
G5-C6: clear
C6-F6: bright
F6-C7: brighter, shrill

Question 3

Oboe

Answer 3

Practical range: Bb3-E6

Bb3-G4: reedy, gradually clearer
G4-G5: reedy, gradually clearer
G5-C6: clear, bright
C6-E6: brighter
E6-F6: thin, shrill

Question 4

Bb clarinet

Answer 4

Practical range: E3-D6

E3-F#4: dark, progressively thinner
F#4-Bb4: weak, throat tones
B4-C6: clear, bright
C6-D6: brighter, shrill

Question 5

Bass clarinet

Answer 5

Practical range: E3-A5

Eb3-F#4: full, rich, progressively thinner
Bb3-B3: the break
A5-E6: thin to shrill

Question 6

Alto saxophone

Answer 6

Practical range: D4-D6

Bb3-C#4: harsh, uncontrolled
C#4-D5: full, gradually thinner
D5-D6: bright to brighter
D6-F#6: thin, shrill

Question 7

Tenor saxophone

Answer 7

Practical range: D4-D6 (same as alto)

Bb3-C#4: difficult to control
D4-C#5: rich, full
C#5-D6: becoming less rich, full
D6-F#6: thin but expressive
F#6: becoming difficult to control intonation

Question 8

Trumpet

Answer 8

Practical range: A3-Bb5

F#3-A3: weak, uncontrolled
D4-G5: clear, rich
G5-Bb5: clear, bright
C5-Eb5: penetrating (lead trumpet range)

Question 9

Horn in F