Woodwinds · Single reed · Clarinet family
Basset Horn
An F alto clarinet with extension down to written C — beloved by Mozart (Requiem, Gran Partita).
Quick facts
| Family | Woodwinds — Single reed |
|---|---|
| Hornbostel–Sachs | 422.211.2 |
| Pitched in | F |
| Transposition | Sounds a perfect fifth lower than written |
| Written range | C3 – G6 |
| Sounding range | F2 – C6 (87.31 – 1047 Hz) |
| Clef | Treble |
| Other names | Bassetthorn, cor de basset, corno di bassetto |
Player's notes
- An F alto clarinet with extension down to written C — beloved by Mozart (Requiem, Gran Partita).
- Narrower bore than the alto clarinet gives a darker, veiled tone.
- Written C sounds F a perfect fifth lower.
About the basset horn
The basset horn (sometimes hyphenated as basset-horn) is a member of the clarinet family of musical instruments.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article “Basset horn”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable repertoire
- Octet — Franz Schubert (1824)
- Turandot — Giacomo Puccini (1921)
- Piano Concerto No. 4 — Sergei Prokofiev
- Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt — Ludwig van Beethoven (1814)
- Kegelstatt Trio — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786)
- Contrasts — Béla Bartók
- Youth — Leoš Janáček (1924)
- The Carnival of the Animals — Camille Saint-Saëns (1886)
- Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791)
- Horn Concerto No. 3 — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1787)
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice — Paul Dukas (1890)
- Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1778)
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the basset horn?
The practical written range of the basset horn is C3 to G6, which sounds F2 to C6 (87.3 Hz to 1047 Hz at A4 = 440 Hz).
Is the basset horn a transposing instrument?
Yes. The basset horn is pitched in F: sounds a perfect fifth lower than written. A written C sounds F.
What clef does the basset horn read?
The basset horn reads treble clef.
How is the basset horn classified?
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system the basset horn is classified as 422.211.2.
Historic examples in museums
Museum →
Related instruments
B♭ Clarinet
The most common clarinet: written C sounds B♭ a whole step lower.
A Clarinet
Slightly longer sibling of the B♭ clarinet; written C sounds A, a minor third lower.
E♭ Clarinet
The small 'piccolo' of the clarinet family; written C sounds E♭ a minor third higher.
Alto Clarinet
Pitched in E♭ a fifth below the B♭ soprano; written C sounds E♭ a major sixth lower.
Bass Clarinet
Sounds an octave below the B♭ clarinet; in French (treble-clef) notation written C…
Contrabass Clarinet
Sounds two octaves and a whole step below written pitch.