The english horn’s range in notes and hertz
| Sounding | Written | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme low | E♭3 | B♭3 | 155.56 Hz |
| Practical low | E3 | B3 | 164.81 Hz |
| Practical high | C6 | G6 | 1046.5 Hz |
An English horn usually lacks the oboe’s low B♭ key; some have one, which adds a sounding E♭3. It is in F, so written C sounds the F a fifth below.
Written and sounding pitch
The english horn is a transposing instrument: it sounds a perfect fifth lower than written, which makes it an F instrument. So the range on its part is B3–G6, while the notes you hear are E3–C6. To convert a part, use the concert pitch to F chart. The transposing-instrument tuner reads out the written note as you play.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the english horn’s:
- Viola · C3–D7 33 notes shared
- Cello · C2–A6 33 notes shared
- 7-string guitar · B1–C♯6 33 notes shared
- 8-string guitar · F♯1–C♯6 33 notes shared
- Harp · C2–A6 33 notes shared
- Guzheng · D2–D6 33 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- English horn tuner — tune by microphone, with the english horn’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of an english horn?
The english horn’s normal range runs from E3 to C6 — 164.81 to 1046.5 Hz, about 2.7 octaves. At the extremes it reaches E♭3–C6. Its part is written B3–G6, because it sounds a perfect fifth lower than written.
What is the lowest note on an english horn?
E♭3 (155.56 Hz), on instruments that have it; the usual bottom is E3.
What is the highest note on an english horn?
C6 (1046.5 Hz).