The bassoon’s range in notes and hertz
| Sounding | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme low | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| Practical low | B♭1 | 58.27 Hz |
| Practical high | E5 | 659.26 Hz |
| Extreme high | A♭5 | 830.61 Hz |
Low A needs an extension that few bassoons have; the top above E5 is for strong players. Bassoon parts move into tenor clef as they climb.
Written and sounding pitch
The bassoon reads at concert pitch in bass clef: a written note sounds as written, so the range above is both the sound and the page.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the bassoon’s:
- 8-string guitar · F♯1–C♯6 43 notes shared
- French horn · F1–F5 43 notes shared
- Piano · A0–C8 43 notes shared
- 7-string guitar · B1–C♯6 42 notes shared
- Baritone guitar · B1–B5 42 notes shared
- Cello · C2–A6 41 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Bassoon tuner — tune by microphone, with the bassoon’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a bassoon?
The bassoon’s normal range runs from B♭1 to E5 — 58.27 to 659.26 Hz, about 3.5 octaves. At the extremes it reaches A1–A♭5.
What is the lowest note on a bassoon?
A1 (55.00 Hz), on instruments that have it; the usual bottom is B♭1.
What is the highest note on a bassoon?
E5 is the top of the normal range, and A♭5 (830.61 Hz) is reachable at the extreme.