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Acoustical Characteristics of Musical Instruments

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.

 

Instrument Tonal Range (Lower/Upper) Frequency Content Up To (Harmonics/Noise) Typical Max SPL, 3m SPL (dB re 20μPa) Dynamic Range Attack Time
Violin g (196 Hz) / g⁴ (3136 Hz) 10 kHz / 16 kHz 95 dB At the ear: up to 109 dB 30 dB 5-30 ms
Viola c (131 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz) 10 kHz / 16 kHz     30 dB 30–50 ms
Cello C (65.4 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz) 8 kHz / 16 kHz     35 dB Plucked string: 5–30 ms; Struck string: 30–50 ms
Double Bass E₁ (41.2 Hz) / g (196 Hz) 7.5 kHz / 10 kHz 95 dB   35 dB Up to 110 ms; Hard: up to 110 ms; Soft: up to 450 ms
Trumpet e (165 Hz) / d³ (1175 Hz) 15 kHz / 15 kHz 106 dB 0.5 m from bell piece: normal; forte: 108 dB; extreme forte: 128 dB Lower tonal range: 30 dB; Higher tonal range: 10 dB 20–40 ms
French horn H₁ (61.7 Hz) / f² (698 Hz) 10 kHz / 10 kHz 95 dB   Middle tonal range: 40 dB; Higher tonal range: 20 dB 20-40 ms; In low tonal range: up to 80 ms
Trombone E (82.4 Hz) / c² (523 Hz) 7 kHz / 10 kHz 104 dB   Middle tonal range: 45 dB 20–40 ms
Tuba Eb1 (39 Hz) / g¹ (392 Hz) 4 kHz / 7.5 kHz 96 dB   Middle tonal range: 40 dB 20–40 ms
Piccolo flute d² (587 Hz) / c⁵ (4186 Hz) 10 kHz / 15 kHz 102 dB     20–60 ms
Flute c¹ (262 Hz) / c⁴ (2093 Hz) 6 kHz / 15 kHz 96 dB   35 dB 20-60 ms; Low register: Up to 180 ms
Oboe c¹ (262 Hz) / d³ (1175 Hz) 15 kHz / 15 kHz 90 dB   30 dB 20–60 ms; Low register: Up to 120 ms
Clarinet d (147 Hz) / e³ (1319 Hz) 10 kHz / 15 kHz 92 dB   50 dB 20–60 ms
Bassoon Bb (58.3 Hz) / c² (523 Hz) 8 kHz / 12 kHz 90 dB   35 dB 20–60 ms
Contra bassoon Bb₂ (29.2 Hz) / c¹ (262 Hz)   92 dB     20-60 ms
Soprano sax ab (208 Hz) / eb³ (1245 Hz) 12 kHz / 16 kHz 98 dB     20–60 ms
Alto sax db (139 Hz) / ab² (831 Hz)   98 dB At the center of the bell piece up to 130 dB   20–60 ms
Tenor sax Ab (104 Hz) / eb² (622 Hz)   98 dB At the center of the bell piece up to 130 dB 25 dB 20–60 ms
Baritone sax Db (69.4 Hz) / ab¹ (415 Hz)   98 dB     20–60 ms
Bass sax Ab₁ (51.9 Hz) / db¹ (278 Hz)   96 dB     20–60 ms
Acoustic guitar (nylon strings) E (82.4 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz)   88 dB     20-60 ms
Acoustic guitar (steel strings) E (82.4 Hz) / c³ (1047 Hz)   92 dB     20–60 ms
Grand piano A₂ (27.5 Hz) / c⁵ (4186 Hz)   Lid in 45° position: 100 dB     20–60 ms
Timpani ø80 cm Eb (77.8 Hz) – G (98 Hz) 60 Hz – 200 Hz 110 dB     10-18 ms
Timpani ø75 cm F (87.3 Hz) – c (131 Hz) 60 Hz – 200 Hz 110 dB     10-18 ms
Timpani ø65 cm A (110 Hz) – f (175 Hz) 60 Hz – 200 Hz 110 dB     10-18 ms
Timpani ø60 cm c (131 Hz) – ab (208 Hz) 60 Hz – 200 Hz 110 dB     10-18 ms
Kick (bass) drum   50 Hz – 400 Hz 115 dB With pedal, 20 cm from drumhead: 120–128 dB 80 dB 8-12 ms
Snare drum   80 Hz – 4 kHz   108 dB 55 dB 5-8 ms
Cymbal   100 Hz – 5 kHz   105 dB 65 dB 2-4 ms
Triangle   2 kHz – 12 kHz        

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