Questions on instruments’ pitch ranges - their lowest and highest notes- will be implied both in question 4 and question 6(a). In this latter question, you will be given the start of a melody in a given clef and asked to complete it, naming the instrument for which it could be written.  

Take some time then to learn the pitch ranges of the instruments shown below - e.g. the flute only has the range from middle C (C4) to C three octaves higher (C7) and couldn’t be used for a melody written in the bass clef.

Know the highest and lowest pitched instrument in each family colour coded as turquoise (voice), pink (strings), green (woodwind) and blue (brass) -e.g. the tuba is the lowest pitched brass instrument while the trumpet in Bb is the highest.

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Instruments and their families

Family of instruments

Transposing Instruments

Cadences

Question 7

In question 4 you could be asked more general questions about instruments, particularly about transposing instruments - a favourite question is “Name a transposing instrument in the woodwind family”.

Another “trick” question concerns which percussion instrument could play a melody.  Follow this link to learn more about transposing instruments, families of instruments and other facts.

6 EITHER

(a) Compose a complete melody for unaccompanied horn in F or cello, using the given opening. Indicate the tempo and other performance directions, including any that might be particularly required for the instrument chosen. The complete melody should be eight bars long.

Instrument for which the melody is written: ..............................................................

If you choose to write for ‘cello, be aware that its got the smaller pitch range C2 to A4 (A above middle C) - keep mostly within range of notes that can be written on the bass staff without using  ledger lines.

While the Horn in F has a larger range, it’s a transposing instrument and you should presume you are writing at written pitch not concert pitch.  Although it’s lowest note is Bb1 this would be written a 5th higher at F2 -higher than the ‘cello’s lowest note and the bottom space note on the staff!

All things considered, I would always avoid the transposing instrument and pick the ‘cello in this case

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4 (c) (i) This extract is from a song written for a soprano, which is the highest-sounding voice. Rewrite the following voices in order of their pitch range from highest to lowest. The first answer is given.

 Baritone   Soprano   Bass   Tenor   Alto

Soprano     ............................   .......................   ............................     ...........................

(ii) Name the highest-sounding member of the standard orchestral woodwind family.

............................................

(iii) Now name a different family of standard orchestral instruments and states its lowest-sounding member.

Family  .........................................        Instrument ................................................

4(c) (i)  Soprano - Alto - Tenor- Baritone-Bass

(ii)  Piccolo

(iii)  String   - Double Bass

       Brass    - Tuba

(Remember the “standard orchestral instruments” only comprise string, woodwind, and brass families.)

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