The staves in orchestral scores are generally laid out
according to the table below (reading from the top down with braces around the
different sections and brackets around instruments from the same family if they
use more than one stave - such as the violins.
A pdf file showing a score layout plus instrument
ranges and transpositions is available on the downloads page.
|
Family |
Instrument |
Clef(s) |
Transpositions / comments |
|
W
o
o
d
w
i
n
d
s |
Piccolo |
Treble |
Sometimes put underneath flutes
|
|
Flutes |
Treble |
|
|
Alto Flute |
Treble |
In G - sounding a 4th lower than
written |
|
Oboes |
Treble |
|
|
Cor Anglais |
Treble |
In F - sounding a 5th lower than
written |
|
Eb Clarinet |
Treble |
In Eb - sounding a minor
third higher than written |
|
Bb / A or C Clarinets |
Treble |
C - as written
Bb - a tone lower than written
A - a minor third lower than written |
|
Bass Clarinet |
Treble |
Bb is the most common
transposition, sounding a major 9th below written. The rarer bass
clarinet in A sounds a further semitone lower. |
|
Bassoons |
Bass / Tenor |
|
|
Contra-bassoon |
Bass |
Sounds an octave lower than written. |
|
B
R
A
S
S
|
Horns 1+2
Horns 3+4 |
Treble / Bass |
Nowadays written in F, sounding a
5th lower than written. Traditionally there is no key signature -
accidentals being added where necessary. Classical horn parts
appear in many other keys and horn players are familiar with many
transpositions. Bass clef transpositions can go up or down depending
on different composers / periods. |
|
Trumpets |
Treble |
Nowadays mostly in either Bb,
sounding a major 2nd lower, or C. Like horns, however, there
are numerous different instruments and transpositions. |
|
Trombones
1+2 |
Bass / Tenor / Alto |
Although called "Trombones in Bb",
in orchestral parts they never transpose but use a variety of clefs.
Mostly bass and tenor clefs are used nowadays. |
|
Trombone 3
+ Tuba |
Bass |
|
|
P
E
R
C
U
S
S
I
O
N
|
Timpani |
Bass |
Classical timpani parts used to
transpose (i.e. tonic and dominant were written as C-G regardless of the
actual notes) but now they are normally written as played. Normally a
timpanist uses no more than four drums - scores requiring more are written
for two sets of instruments. |
|
Percussion |
N/A |
Depending on the number of
instruments these can be arranged on a number of staves. |
|
O
T
H
E
R |
Harps |
Treble / Bass |
They do not transpose but are
complicated to write for! |
|
S
T
R
I
N
G
S
|
Violin 1 |
Treble |
|
|
Violin 2 |
Treble |
|
|
Viola |
Alto / Treble |
Normally written for on alto clef -
treble is only used where the music is too hight to lie easily on the alto
clef. |
|
Cello |
Bass / Tenor / Treble |
Nowadays all three clefs used are
played at the pitch written but in the 19th century it was common to notate
using treble clef and the notes sounded an octave lower than written. |
|
Bass |
Bass / Tenor |
The sound is almost always an octave
lower than written. All basses can reach the E written just under the bass
clef but some composers write as low as C so sometimes players play low
passages at the pitch written. |