Beginner's Orchestration

Part 1 -- Getting Started & Explanations

In Overtone Series, the lowest tone is the fundamental / first partial.

For example, imagine a tone with a frequency of 440 Hertz, then the frequency of the next octave higher is 880 Hertz, so the ratio is 2:1.

Humans can perceive from ~20 Hz to ~20k Hz.

The lowest A on a piano plays at ~27 Hz; the highest piano note plays at ~4k Hz.

Implied Fundamental refers to vibrations generated downwards.

Voicing Chords refers to keeping the implied fundamental audible; modern free plugins for mixing and mastering in any DAW enables you to adjust frequencies at will, so we won't worry about voicing chords.

Timbre
Refers to overall amplitude and tone of all instruments playing simultaneously, regardless if in lower, middle or upper registers. May drown out staccato and short notes. Produces power but less expressive than fewer or solo instruments.

1st refers to any single or group of related instruments; usually consists of experienced players to lead or solo.

2nd refers to any single or group of related instruments behind 1st; usually consists of less experienced players to support or accentuate 1st.

3rd refers to any single or group of related instruments behind 2nd; usually consists of less experienced players to add timbral texture or amplitude.

Orchestrator may use as many layers as desired.

Instrumental Balancing

The more instruments you use, the more imbalance occurs among them; so compose sparingly until you gain experience.

Percussion and bassy instruments are the heartbeat; brass and woodwinds are the voice; strings and piano are the personality.

An easy means to make music is start with drums and bassy instruments, making a rhythm that is filled-in and expanded with other instruments to your tastes.

Alternatively, start with strings or piano as the 'main character' and then add other instruments to fill-in as heartbeat and voice.

The more instruments playing simultaneously, the produced overtones are heavier and louder, but less expressive. Expressions are best done by fewer or solo instruments, usually violin or piano.

Note that, in electronic music, you can still use concepts of orchestra. For example, sawtooth for tremolo, sine for piano, pads for woodwinds, synth leads for brass, etc. By implementing orchestration technique as electronic sounds, you can stand out a bit more!

Specific Balancing

2 flutes balanced by 1 Clarinet or Oboe

3 flutes playing below upper register balanced by 1 Horn

2 flutes playing in upper register balanced by 1 Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, 1st Violins, 2nd Violins, or Violas

2 Clarinets, Oboes, or Bassoons balanced by 1 Horn

2 Bassoons balanced by Celli or Basses

2 Horns balanced by 1 Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, 1st Violins, 2nd Violins, or Celli

4 Horns balanced by 1 lower register Bass Trombone

1 Trumpet balanced by 1 Trombone, Tuba, 1st Violins, 2nd Violins, or Violas