French

Horn

Suggested

Range

About Our

Suggested

Ranges

General Information

Next to the violin, it is hard to name an instrument that provides a more quintessential orchestral sound than the French horn. Like the violins, the French horns perform a wide range of services. A horn section can create soft, luxurious harmonies, grand melodic themes and sharp, dramatic attacks. A brief overview of the French horn's range will help us to compose more effectively for this instrument. But before we continue, we need to discuss its notation.

Notation

In standard practice, French horn parts are written in the treble clef. The French horn actually sounds a perfect 5th lower than its written note. In other words, if you write the note G for the French horn, it will play the C a perfect 5th below that G:

Therefore, when we write for the French horn, we notate its part a perfect 5th higher than how it will actually sound. (Note: For the purposes of this discussion, we will avoid any confusion and refer to each note by its concert pitch.)

The Horn Section

A French horn section typically consists of four horns. Some early classical music contains compositions for just two horn players, and modern writing can go up to six or even eight players. But four players comprise the most common size of an orchestral horn section.

When we write for the horn section, the highest parts go to players #1 and #3. Players #2 and #4 play the lower parts. Therefore, in a four part chord, starting from top to bottom, the chord would be written for player #1, #3, #2 and #4. Traditionally in orchestral scores, the parts for horns #1 and #2 are both written on one stave. In the next stave below it are the parts for horns #3 and #4.

However, because horn #1 and #3 often play similar, if not the same part, modern scores now place horn #1 and #3 on one stave, and horn #2 and #4 on the stave below it. This is the method we have used throughout our Secret Composer scores.

Concert Pitch

Review