What is an instrument's range?

An instrument's range is the span from its lowest to highest playable note. Beginners typically use a smaller portion of the range, while advanced players can reach extreme notes. For example, a piano spans 88 keys (A0 to C8), while a violin ranges from G3 to approximately A7 for advanced players.

What is a transposing instrument?

A transposing instrument is one where the written note differs from the sounding pitch. For example, when a Bb clarinet plays a written C, it sounds as Bb. This exists for historical and practical reasons—it allows players to use the same fingerings across instrument families and read in comfortable registers.

What clef should I use for my instrument?

Most instruments use treble clef (violin, flute, trumpet) or bass clef (cello, bass, trombone). Piano uses both. Viola uses alto clef. The choice depends on the instrument's range—clefs position notes comfortably on the staff to minimize ledger lines.

Musical Instrument Ranges & Capabilities

Explore 65 musical instruments with interactive range guides. See what notes are playable for beginners through advanced players.

From piano and violin to trumpet and guitar, discover the playable range for each instrument. Click the keys or notes below to hear how each note sounds.

Select an instrument

Typical range

Click any key to hear the note

Piano

KeyboardTreble + Bass clef

Range

A0 to C8

Span

87 notes, 7+ octaves

About

Standard 88-key piano

→

All Musical Instruments

Browse our complete library of instruments. Click any row to see its range visualization above.

Instrument	Family	Range (Advanced)	Clef	Transposition
Alto Saxophone	Woodwind	Db3 to A5	Treble	Eb
Alto Voice	Voice	E3 to Bb5	Treble	Concert (C)
Baritone Saxophone	Woodwind	C2 to A4	Treble	Eb
Baritone Voice	Voice	F2 to A4	Bass	Concert (C)
Bass Clarinet	Woodwind	Bb1 to F5	Treble	Bb
Bass Drum	Percussion	C2 to C7	Percussion	Concert (C)
Bass Trombone	Brass	Bb1 to C5	Bass	Concert (C)
Bass Voice	Voice	C2 to G4	Bass	Concert (C)
Bassoon	Woodwind	Bb1 to Eb5	Bass	Concert (C)
Celesta	Keyboard	C3 to C8	Treble + Bass	C
Cello	String	C2 to C6	Bass	Concert (C)
Chimes	Percussion	C4 to G5	Treble	Concert (C)
Clarinet	Woodwind	D3 to Bb6	Treble	Bb
Contrabassoon	Woodwind	Bb0 to Bb3	Bass	C
Cornet	Brass	E3 to C6	Treble	Bb
Double Bass	String	C1 to C5	Bass	C
Drums	Percussion	C2 to C7	Percussion	Concert (C)
Electric Bass	String	B0 to G4	Bass	C
Electric Guitar	String	E2 to E6	Treble	C
English Horn	Woodwind	E3 to C6	Treble	F
Euphonium	Brass	Bb1 to Bb4	Bass	Concert (C)
Flugelhorn	Brass	E3 to Bb5	Treble	Bb
Flute	Woodwind	B3 to D7	Treble	Concert (C)
French Horn	Brass	B1 to F5	Treble	F
Glockenspiel	Percussion	F5 to F8	Treble	C
Guitar	String	E2 to B5	Treble	C
Harp	String	Cb1 to G#7	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Harpsichord	Keyboard	F1 to F6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Lyre	String	E3 to E5	Treble	Concert (C)
Marimba	Percussion	C2 to C7	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Oboe	Woodwind	Bb3 to A6	Treble	Concert (C)
Organ	Keyboard	C2 to C7	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Piano	Keyboard	A0 to C8	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Piccolo	Woodwind	D5 to C8	Treble	C
Snare Drum	Percussion	C2 to C7	Percussion	Concert (C)
Soprano Saxophone	Woodwind	Ab3 to E6	Treble	Bb
Soprano Voice	Voice	B3 to D6	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Bass	Keyboard	C0 to G3	Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Bass 2	Keyboard	C0 to G3	Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Lead	Keyboard	C3 to C7	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Bass	Keyboard	C1 to C6	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Calliope	Keyboard	C3 to C7	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Charang	Keyboard	C2 to C7	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Chiff	Keyboard	C3 to C7	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Fifths	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Sawtooth	Keyboard	C3 to C7	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Lead Voice	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble	Concert (C)
Synth Pad	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Bowed	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Choir	Keyboard	C2 to C5	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Halo	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Metallic	Keyboard	C2 to C7	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Polysynth	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Sweep	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Synth Pad Warm	Keyboard	C2 to C6	Treble + Bass	Concert (C)
Tenor Saxophone	Woodwind	Ab2 to E5	Treble	Bb
Tenor Voice	Voice	Bb2 to G5	Treble	Concert (C)
Timpani	Percussion	C2 to C4	Bass	Concert (C)
Trombone	Brass	F1 to F5	Bass	Concert (C)
Trumpet	Brass	E3 to C6	Treble	Bb
Tuba	Brass	D1 to F4	Bass	Concert (C)
Vibraphone	Percussion	C3 to F6	Treble	Concert (C)
Viola	String	C3 to E6	Alto	Concert (C)
Violin	String	G3 to A7	Treble	Concert (C)
Xylophone	Percussion	C5 to C9	Treble	C

Showing 65 of 65 instruments

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