The timpani’s range in notes and hertz
| Sounding | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme low | C2 | 65.41 Hz |
| Practical low | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| Practical high | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| Extreme high | C4 | 261.63 Hz |
D2 to A3 is a standard set of four drums. Each drum covers only part of it; a piccolo drum reaches C4 and a large one goes lower.
Written and sounding pitch
The timpani 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 timpani’s:
- Cello · C2–A6 20 notes shared
- 7-string guitar · B1–C♯6 20 notes shared
- 8-string guitar · F♯1–C♯6 20 notes shared
- Brazilian 7-string guitar · C2–B5 20 notes shared
- Baritone guitar · B1–B5 20 notes shared
- Bass guitar · E1–G4 20 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Timpani tuner — tune by microphone, with the timpani’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a timpani?
The timpani’s normal range runs from D2 to A3 — 73.42 to 220.00 Hz, about 1.6 octaves. At the extremes it reaches C2–C4.
What is the lowest note on a timpani?
C2 (65.41 Hz), on instruments that have it; the usual bottom is D2.
What is the highest note on a timpani?
A3 is the top of the normal range, and C4 (261.63 Hz) is reachable at the extreme.