This article contains a comprehensive table that provides information about different musical instruments, their tonal range, sound levels and dynamic range.
Use the table below to get an overview of your instrument's tonal range, sound pressure level and dynamic range. It will help you decide on the required minimum specifications for your microphone.
Strings
Tonal range (lower/upper)
g (196 Hz) / g⁴ (3136 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 10 kHz / 16 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
95 dB
SPL (db re 20μPa)
At the ear: up to 109 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
c (131 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 10 kHz / 16 kHz
Tonal range (lower/upper)
C (65.4 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 8 kHz / 16 kHz
Attack time
Plucked string: 5–30 ms; Struck string: 30–50 ms
Tonal range (lower/upper)
E₁ (41.2 Hz) / g (196 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 7.5 kHz / 10 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
95 dB
Attack time
Up to 110 ms; Hard: up to 110 ms; Soft: up to 450 ms
Brass
Tonal range (lower/upper)
e (165 Hz) / d³ (1175 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 15 kHz / 15 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
106 dB
SPL (db re 20μPa)
0.5 m from bell piece: normal; forte: 108 dB; extreme forte: 128 dB
Dynamic range
Lower tonal range: 30 dB; Higher tonal range: 10 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
H₁ (61.7 Hz) / f² (698 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 10 kHz / 10 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
95 dB
Dynamic range
Middle tonal range: 40 dB; Higher tonal range: 20 dB
Attack time
20-40 ms; In low tonal range: up to 80 ms
Tonal range (lower/upper)
E (82.4 Hz) / c² (523 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 7 kHz / 10 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
104 dB
Dynamic range
Middle tonal range: 45 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
Eb1 (39 Hz) / g¹ (392 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 4 kHz / 7.5 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
96 dB
Dynamic range
Middle tonal range: 40 dB
Woodwinds
Tonal range (lower/upper)
d² (587 Hz) / c⁵ (4186 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 10 kHz / 15 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
102 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
c¹ (262 Hz) / c⁴ (2093 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 6 k Hz / 15 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
96 dB
Attack time
20-60 ms; Low register: Up to 180 ms
Tonal range (lower/upper)
c¹ (262 Hz) / d³ (1175 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 15 kHz / 15 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
90 dB
Attack time
20–60 ms; Low register: Up to 120 ms
Tonal range (lower/upper)
d (147 Hz) / e³ (1319 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 10 kHz / 15 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
92 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
Bb (58.3 Hz) / c² (523 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 8 kHz / 12 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
90 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
Bb₂ (29.2 Hz) / c¹ (262 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
92 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
ab (208 Hz) / eb³ (1245 Hz)
Frequency content up to (harmonics/noise)
⇒ 12 kHz / 16 kHz
Typical max SPL, 3m
98 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
db (139 Hz) / ab² (831 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
98 dB
SPL (dB re 20μPa)
At the center of the bell piece up to 130 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
Ab (104 Hz) / eb² (622 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
98 dB
SPL (dB re 20μPa)
At the center of the bell piece up to 130 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
Db (69.4 Hz) / ab¹ (415 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
98 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
Ab₁ (51.9 Hz) / db¹ (278 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
96 dB
Stringed instruments
Tonal range (lower/upper)
E (82.4 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
88 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
E (82.4 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
92 dB
Tonal range (lower/upper)
A₂ (27.5 Hz) / c⁵ (4186 Hz)
Typical max SPL, 3m
Lid in 45° position: 100 dB
Percussions
Tuning
Eb (77.8 Hz) – G (98 Hz)
Frequency range with the highest level
60 Hz – 200 Hz
Typical max SPL, 3m
110 dB
Tuning
F (87.3 Hz) – c (131 Hz)
Frequency range with the highest level
60 Hz – 200 Hz
Typical max SPL, 3m
110 dB
Tuning
A (110 Hz) – f (175 Hz)
Frequency range with the highest level
60 Hz – 200 Hz
Typical max SPL, 3m
110 dB
Tuning
c (131 Hz) – ab (208 Hz)
Frequency range with the highest level
60 Hz – 200 Hz
Typical max SPL, 3m
110 dB
Frequency range with the highest level
50 Hz – 400 Hz
Typical max SPL, 3m
115 dB
SPL (dB re 20μPa)
With pedal, 20 cm from drumhead: 120–128 dB
Frequency range with the highest level
80 Hz – 4 kHz
Frequency range with the highest level
100 Hz – 5 kHz
Frequency range with the highest level
2 kHz – 12 kHz
Live microphones from DPA
The
4099 Instrument Microphone series offer natural reproduction and high gain before feedback. Dedicated holders are available for a range of instruments.
Studio microphones from DPA
In controlled environments you could benefit from a mic with even lower distortion and a huge dynamic range. Our
pencil microphones are excellent for e.g. symphonic concert hall recordings and as support mic for acoustic instruments.
Related content
In Microphone University we have loads of content that could be relevant to you. Learn more about how to mic various instruments in the articles below.