What Is the Pitch Range of a Timpani?

Timpani are played with a variety of mallets, soft and hard, depending on the desired timbre.

Timpani are drums that look like big copper kettles. They are commonly used in orchestras and bands. A single timpani can produce multiple notes, and percussionists typically use three to four timpani.

Changing Pitch

Like other drums, the timpani consists of a large frame covered by a drum head. The Tension of the drum head alters the pitch. Timpani adjust the tension, and thereby the pitch, by means of a pedal mechanism.

Standard Sizes

The smaller the frame of the timpani, the higher the pitches available on that drum. Larger frames offer lower pitches. The smallest timpani is typically 20 inches in diameter; larger drums are available in sizes that increase by three inches at a time, from 23 up to 32 inches.

Range of Standard Timpani

Each timpani is capable of producing notes in the range of a perfect fifth (e.g. C, D, E, F, G and the accidentals in between them). A 20-inch timpani, for example, can play from F3 to C4. A 23-inch drum ranges from D3 to A3, while a 26-inch timpani goes from A2 to E3. The 29-inch model can play pitches from F2 to C3; the largest, 32-inch drum ranges from D2 to A2. The pitch range of a professional timpani increases to a full octave.

References

• Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary: Timpani