If you want to write for an orchestra, having a reference sheet is helpful regarding the instruments and their order. Remembering the order of the orchestral instruments isn’t so important if you use a template from a music notation program. Still, it’s handy if you are writing the old-fashioned way with pencil and paper or your notation program doesn’t provide a complete list of orchestral instruments. So here is the reference sheet I created if I get in a bind. (I’ll share a more comprehensive list in a later post).

  • Piccolo
  • Flute 1, 2
  • Oboe 1, 2
  • English Horn
  • Clarinet in Eb
  • Clarinet in Bb 1, 2
  • Bass Clarinet
  • Alto saxophone in Eb
  • Bassoon 1, 2
  • Contrabassoon
  • French Horn I, III in F(modern version is 1, 2,)
  • French Horn II, IV in F(modern version is 3, 4)
  • Trumpets 1, 2 in C
  • Trumpet 3 in C
  • Trumpet in Bb 1, 2
  • Trumpet in Bb 3
  • Trombone 1, 2
  • Trombone 3
  • Bass Trombone/Tuba
  • Timpani
  • Percussion
  • Xylophone
  • Triangle
  • Snare
  • Harp
  • Piano
  • Celesta
  • Acoustic Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Solo Voice
  • SATB choir on two staves (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
  • Solo instrument
  • Violins I
  • Violins II
  • Viola
  • Violoncello or Cello or Celli
  • Double Bass or Basses

Please remember that all of these instruments will not be in the same score, you probably will not have three trumpets in B flat and three in C, but then again, the score is whatever you write. Thanks for reading; I’m just a music teacher having fun, catch ya on the next one.