English
Horn
Suggested
Range
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English Horn
Though the English horn
has a similar timbre to the oboe,
it has a slightly lower range. This gives the English
horn a richer sound - particularly in the lower register. Therefore,
one of the main roles of the English
horn within the orchestra is to extend downward the range of the
oboe.
Notation
English horn
parts are written in the treble clef. Like the French
horn, the English horn
actually sounds a lower than written. In other words, if you write the note G for
the English horn, it will actually
play the C a perfect 5th lower.
![](written_note_v_sounding_note_treble_clef.jpg)
The English horn
uses the exact same fingerings as the oboe,
except for the written low Bb, which the English horn cannot play. Because it
is missing the low Bb, its lowest written note
is B3, which sounds the E3
a below Middle C. Caution should be used when playing the highest
notes.
![](Range_english_horn.jpg)
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