Hi,
I like to compose on acoustic guitar, but i see i have an issue with the range relative to many instruments.
Like, an Alto recorder starts on F4, already on the highest string of a guitar, theres a whole octave of the recorder that the guitar cant play. Even for a transversal flute, starting at C4 the guitar might not fit so well.
I usually transpose but i feel each octave is not literally the same.
Im looking if theres a string instrument similar to a guitar but that does that higher octaves that flutes, violin can do. Even because after F5 is not confortable on the guitar and the sound gets tiny.
I first thought about ukulele, but i saw that the highest range is similar to guitar.
String instrument with high range?
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- KVRAF
- 11000 posts since 15 Apr, 2019 from Nowhere
Mandolin will give you almost an octave more than a guitar, but it’s difficult to play on the highest frets, particularly if you have larger fingers. I have average sized hands and find it difficult to fret on the highest frets.
Maybe learn piano if you want to compose for a range of instruments, as very few instruments have a range that falls outside of the range of a piano.
Maybe learn piano if you want to compose for a range of instruments, as very few instruments have a range that falls outside of the range of a piano.
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- KVRAF
- 16828 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
I'd have to check, but I thought the soprano recorder's lowest note is the C, identical to the B string's first position. Since alto is lower, something's not quite right in your statement.
You should also be aware that guitar in staff music is notated an octave higher than it really is. This might be exactly the "problem" you are trying to solve.
Having said that, for composition I think it's not that important to play in the same pitch. You can do it one (or two) octaves lower. Your brain will do the hard work and compensate anyway. It has to "convert" hearing strings to flute anyway.
The true KvrAudio answer is to forget acoustical instruments and use a DAW and an orchestral sample library to mimick your intended instruments.
You should also be aware that guitar in staff music is notated an octave higher than it really is. This might be exactly the "problem" you are trying to solve.
Having said that, for composition I think it's not that important to play in the same pitch. You can do it one (or two) octaves lower. Your brain will do the hard work and compensate anyway. It has to "convert" hearing strings to flute anyway.
The true KvrAudio answer is to forget acoustical instruments and use a DAW and an orchestral sample library to mimick your intended instruments.
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 127 posts since 8 Feb, 2019
Mandolin seems a great suggestion, not perfect only cause I like to play with no-nail fingers. Im looking for this kind of instrument, but looking for the range im finding the higher range of it is lower than guitar? It sounds so bright.
Yes, Bert, you are right, i Just saw i was confusing things. I guess the brightness and intensity of the recorder sound made me think it was an octave higher!
So.. the tenor recorder and the transversal flute starts at the same note as a Viola, quite interesting to note.
I like a lot vsts, but i prefer to compose with acoustic.
Yes, Bert, you are right, i Just saw i was confusing things. I guess the brightness and intensity of the recorder sound made me think it was an octave higher!
So.. the tenor recorder and the transversal flute starts at the same note as a Viola, quite interesting to note.
I like a lot vsts, but i prefer to compose with acoustic.
Better than this only the silence. Better than the silence only John.
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- addled muppet weed
- 111299 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
chapman stick.
8 string guitar.
7 string guitar.
8 string guitar.
7 string guitar.
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- KVRAF
- 11000 posts since 15 Apr, 2019 from Nowhere
7 string usually only has a lower range added from a low B string, and I think the highest note on a Chapman stick is slightly below the highest notes on a guitar. 8 string would definitely add upper range though.
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- addled muppet weed
- 111299 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
ah high as in upper, rather than greater 
read post not title
read post not title
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- addled muppet weed
- 111299 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
I never felt I had to hear the real pitch of things outside a guitar range in composing/orchestrating. I’d recommend not wasting too much time with it as though a big problem. Acoustic guitar to flute isn’t 1:1 timbrally to begin with. EG: The same pitch on tenor trombone vs alto flute, the ‘bone might impress you as higher... both because of timbre (energy) and because the a.f. is more relaxed while producing the tone.
The envelope of a wind instrument isn’t captured by any guitar, anyway. You can get some flautando via picking more by the neck, and harmonics (you have a further octave via artificial harmonics), but ultimately it’s about imagining (utilizing one’s experience) the effect any way you cut it; unless your trial and error is in a DAW with soft instruments more or less giving you the effect.
The envelope of a wind instrument isn’t captured by any guitar, anyway. You can get some flautando via picking more by the neck, and harmonics (you have a further octave via artificial harmonics), but ultimately it’s about imagining (utilizing one’s experience) the effect any way you cut it; unless your trial and error is in a DAW with soft instruments more or less giving you the effect.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 127 posts since 8 Feb, 2019
I realized It partially when I noted i was confusing the octaves lol, but i like very much the sound of guitars last tring scale, but its harder to solo there. There's capotrastes, but i thing experiencing a mandolin might be very interesting.jancivil wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 5:29 pm I never felt I had to hear the real pitch of things outside a guitar range in composing/orchestrating. I’d recommend not wasting too much time with it as though a big problem. Acoustic guitar to flute isn’t 1:1 timbrally to begin with. EG: The same pitch on tenor trombone vs alto flute, the ‘bone might impress you as higher... both because of timbre (energy) and because the a.f. is more relaxed while producing the tone.
The envelope of a wind instrument isn’t captured by any guitar, anyway. You can get some flautando via picking more by the neck, and harmonics (you have a further octave via artificial harmonics), but ultimately it’s about imagining (utilizing one’s experience) the effect any way you cut it; unless your trial and error is in a DAW with soft instruments more or less giving you the effect.
I didnt know the Chapman stick, quite interesting, unfortunately not acoustic
Better than this only the silence. Better than the silence only John.
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- addled muppet weed
- 111299 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
acoustic as well.
i really am sorry. didnt even glance at op
i really am sorry. didnt even glance at op
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 127 posts since 8 Feb, 2019
Hi,
First saying i decide to play Mandolin and im very excited about It, not only to write in higher octave - I saw later you are right, Mandolin range goes higher than guitar -, but because it seems a great instrument in many senses.
I verified now that my previous notion of instruments ranges was right, thought I cant identify It by ear... I remember to have tested guitar - eletronic keyboard and thought It was other way... Now i tested with an automatic tuner, I blowed the soprano recorder and its lowest note is C5, so the alto flute being F4 and a concert flute C4.
So, when you use a guitar the beggining of its starts almost on cello lowest notes and gets pretty much the clarinet lowest part, quite curious...
I find using higher octaves useful to write, i find the lower sounds of guitar tending to slow melancholic Melody, i find much easier to imagine a fast joyful melody when playing higher pitch
First saying i decide to play Mandolin and im very excited about It, not only to write in higher octave - I saw later you are right, Mandolin range goes higher than guitar -, but because it seems a great instrument in many senses.
I verified now that my previous notion of instruments ranges was right, thought I cant identify It by ear... I remember to have tested guitar - eletronic keyboard and thought It was other way... Now i tested with an automatic tuner, I blowed the soprano recorder and its lowest note is C5, so the alto flute being F4 and a concert flute C4.
So, when you use a guitar the beggining of its starts almost on cello lowest notes and gets pretty much the clarinet lowest part, quite curious...
I find using higher octaves useful to write, i find the lower sounds of guitar tending to slow melancholic Melody, i find much easier to imagine a fast joyful melody when playing higher pitch
Better than this only the silence. Better than the silence only John.
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- KVRAF
- 8075 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
Mandolin is fun. As a former violin player, I like that the string intervals are consistent, unlike the stupid guitar 
(OTOH, I'm also noodling occasionally on the uke, and it's relatively easy to do chords on. And mountain dulcimer is just sort of automatically easy to play... so there's that.)
(OTOH, I'm also noodling occasionally on the uke, and it's relatively easy to do chords on. And mountain dulcimer is just sort of automatically easy to play... so there's that.)