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AUDIO FREQUENCY CHARTS A P P R O V E D

Fundamentals Harmonics

INSTRUMENT FREQUENCIES
Fundamental frequency range of popular instruments
Human Voices (typical singers)
Percussion instruments
Guitar and Bass Guitar
Acoustic stringed instruments
Wind instruments

Frequency

13 .813
14 .591
15 .832
16 .563
17 .814
18 14
19 .997
20 .998
22 52
23 .000
24 .082
42
11 26
11 .000
12 .541
71

55 .251
58 .365
62 .330
65 54
69 .255
73 .456
78 89
83 .991
88 .609
93 00
98 .328
67

11 .50
11 8.73
12 4.66
13 4.51
13 8.51
14 .91
15 9.98
16 7.98
17 .22
18 0.00
19 4.66
.53

22 00
23 7.46
24 9.32
26 9.02
27 7.02
29 .83
31 9.96
33 5.96
35 .44
37 0.00
39 9.31
.07

44 6.01
27 .626

46 4.92
29 .165

49 8.64
31 .665

52 .03
32 .127

55 4.04
34 .628

59 7.65
36 28

62 9.91
39 .994

66 1.93
41 .995

70 .88
44 05

74 0.00
46 .000

79 8.62
49 .164

.13
83

88 2.02
93 9.84
99 7.28
10 .06
11 48.1
11 75.3
12 39.8
13 43.9
14 9.8
14 80.0
15 17.3
4.3
69 407
73 296
77 416
82 2
87 407
92 307
97 499
10 999
29 500
30 135
8
21 601
23 826
24 124
25 499
27 956
17 351
18 324
19 354
20 945

Hz
55 913
58 000
61 270
5
34 3
36 648
38 708
41 891
43 203
46 654
48 249
51 999

4.6

7.6
.78

6.9
3.8

3.4

2.2

9.9

0.0

7.7
.86

.
9.2

5.3

3.8
.73
.70

46

96

61

75

93

93

22

51

78

44

02

56

28

80
0
8
6
5
4

4
5

0
3
0
6

3
4
7

9
8

3
0

0
7
4
1

7
6

6
6

1
4
8
3

5
3

2
2

8
1

3
9

9
3
1

7
9

8
1
9

7
1

4
0

5
6

7
6
9

5
1
8
5

0
9
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.
.

.
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13
65

52
16

10

20

41
26

83
32

Note C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B

Coloratura Soprano voice 262 – 1397 Hz

Mezzo Soprano voice 247 – 880 Hz
Alto voice 174 – 698 Hz
Tenor voice 130 – 523 Hz
Baritone voice 110 – 370 Hz
Bass voice 82 – 330 Hz
Celeste 262 – 2093 Hz
Tubular Chimes 165 – 784 Hz
Vibraphone 131 – 2093 Hz
Timpani 82 – 196 Hz
Marimba 65 – 2093 Hz
Electric & Acoustic Guitar 82 – 1175 Hz
Bass Guitar (5-string) 33 – 392 Hz (4-string Bass Guitar 41 – 392 Hz)
Violin & Mandolin 196 – 1976 Hz
Viola & Mandola 131 – 1319 Hz
Cello & Mandocello 65 – 659 Hz
Bass Viol (5-string) 33 – 440 Hz (4-string Bass Viol 41 – 440 Hz)
Concert Harp 31 – 3322 Hz
Grand Piano 28 – 4186 Hz
Piccolo 587 – 4186 Hz
Harmonicas 392 – 1396 Hz
Flute 262 – 2349 Hz
Oboe 233 – 1568 Hz
Soprano Saxophone 208 – 2217 Hz
Clarinet 196 – 1865 Hz
Trumpet 165 – 1047 Hz
English Horn 165 – 932 Hz
Alto Saxophone 125 – 880 Hz
Tenor Saxophone 110 – 622 Hz
French Horn 110 – 698 Hz
Trombone 82 – 466 Hz
Baritone Saxophone 69 – 466 Hz
Bass Clarinet 69 – 659 Hz
Bass Trombone 62 – 349 Hz
Bassoon 58 – 622 Hz
Bass Saxophone 58 – 279 Hz
Bass Tuba 41 – 311 Hz
Double Bassoon 29 – 175 Hz
Pipe Organ 16 – 8372 Hz (Electronic & Electro-mechanical Organs may cover a similar range)

Frequency
13 13
14 .591
15 .832
16 .563
17 .814
18 14
19 .997
20 .998
22 52
23 .000
24 .082
42
11 26
11 .000
12 .541
71

55 .251
58 .365
62 .330
65 54
69 .255
73 .456
78 89
83 .991
88 .609
93 .000
98 .328
67

11 .50
11 8.73
12 4.66
13 4.51
13 8.51
14 .91
15 9.98
16 7.98
17 .22
18 0.00
19 4.66
.53

22 .00
23 7.46
24 9.32
26 9.02
27 7.02
29 .83
31 9.96
33 5.96
35 .44
37 0.00
39 9.31
.07

44 6.01
27 .626

46 4.92
29 .165

49 8.64
31 .665

52 8.03
32 .127

55 4.04
34 .628

59 .65
36 28

62 9.91
39 .994

66 1.93
41 .995

70 .88
44 05

74 0.00
46 .000

79 8.62
49 .164

.13
83

88 2.02
93 9.84
99 7.28
10 6.06
11 48.1
11 5.3
12 39.8
13 43.9
14 9.8
14 80.0
15 17.3
4.3
69 407
73 296
77 416
82 2
87 407
92 307
97 499
10 999
27 956
29 500
30 135
8
17 351
18 324
19 354
20 945
21 601
23 826
24 124
25 499

Hz
51 999
55 913
58 000
61 270
5
34 3
36 648
38 708
41 891
43 203
46 654
48 249

0.8

4.6

7.6
.78

6.9
3.8

3.4

2.2

9.9

7.7
.86

9.2

5.3

3.8
.73
.70

46

96

61

75

93

93

22

51

87

44

02

17

28

80
8
6
5
4

4
5

0
3
0
6

3
4
7

9
8

3
0
0
2

0
7
4
1

7
6

6
6

1
4
8
3

5
3

2
2

8
1

3
9

9
3

7
1

7
9

1
9

7
1

4
0

5
6

7
6
9
5
5

8
5

0
9
.
.
.

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13
65

52
16

10

20

41
26

83
32

Note C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B

Octave 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sub Bass Bass Midrange High Mids High Freqs

SUBJECTIVE AUDIO QUALITIES

‘Bite’, ‘Slap’ and ‘Sizzle’: what does it all mean?
0 30 60 120 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k 16k
KICK DRUM Thump Boxiness Attack The English language is a wonderful tool in that it
60 – 80 Hz 500Hz 2 – 6 kHz usually offers many alternative ways of describing

SNARE DRUM Fatness Slap similar things. Alas, that can also make it rather
240Hz 2.5kHz imprecise and confusing, particularly when it
comes to describing sound! We might describe a
HI-HAT Gong Bite Crispness Sizzle
sound as deep, warm, bright, shrill, crisp, forward,
200Hz 2kHz 4 – 7 kHz 9 – 12 kHz
or shimmering. They’re useful terms because we
CYMBALS Clunk Ringing Overtones Sizzle all know roughly what they mean, but they’re not
100 – 300 Hz 1 – 6 kHz 8 – 12 kHz a lot of use when you’re trying to narrow down

BASS GUITAR Rumble Bottom Pluck Pop which frequencies to cut or boost with an EQ!
20 – 30 Hz 60 – 80 Hz 700Hz – 1kHz 2.5kHz
This grid shows some of the key frequency areas for
ELECTRIC Mains Hum Fullness Bite sounds produced by different instruments that you
GUITAR 50 – 60 Hz 240Hz 2.5kHz might find yourself needing to record or mix. It’s
by no means exhaustive, but is a useful reference
ACOUSTIC Bottom Body Hardness Clarity guide as a starting point.
GUITAR 80 – 100 Hz 240Hz 500 – 900 Hz 2 – 2.5kHz

ELECTRIC Bottom Presence

ORGAN 80 – 120 Hz 2.5kHz

Pedal Noise Bottom Presence Shrillness Attack

PIANO
30 – 50 Hz 80 – 120 Hz 2.5 – 5 kHz 5 – 7.5 kHz 10kHz

Warmth Honk Rasp Shrillness

BRASS
200 – 400 Hz 1k – 3.5 kHz 6 – 8 kHz 8 – 12 kHz

Fullness Scratch
STRINGS
200 – 300 Hz 7.5 – 10 kHz

VOCALS Fullness Boom Presence Sibilance

120Hz 200 – 250 Hz 5kHz 7 – 10 kHz

0 30 60 120 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k 16k

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