Beginner's Orchestration

Part 1 -- Getting Started & Explanations

2 Trumpets balanced by 1 lower register Bass Trombone

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

2 Trombones or Tubas balanced by 1 lower register Bass Trombone

1 Tuba balanced by Celli or Basses

1 lower register Bass Trombone balanced by Celli plus Basses

Note: If using a DAW, you can balance most instruments by adjusting their slides, EQ, or MIDI velocities.

Woodwinds

Flute + Oboe = increased resonance and expressiveness than only flutes or oboes.

Oboe timbre is nasally and sometimes awkward; useful for comical moments or for gloomy atmosphere with lower register.

Flute + Oboe = increased dominance in their upper registers.

Flute + Clarinet in their middle registers makes a versatile but darker timbre than Clarinet, due to accentuated lower harmonics of flutes.

Clarinet timbre dominates Flute in upper register.

Oboe + Clarinet = beauty, brilliance

Clarinet + Bassoon = richness, depth

Brass
Usually dominates woodwinds.

Cylindrical brass (trombone, trumpet, baritone) usually dominates conical brass (horn, cornet, tuba, euphonium).

To combine the two types of brass instruments, set them with octave doubling:

Trumpets + Trombones = majestic, epic (when doubled at octave)

Horns + Tuba = mellow, haunting, melancholic (when doubled at octave)

Cornet + Horns = lyrical, soaring (when doubled at octave)

Octave doubling means the notes are fifteen lines apart; when using MIDI or digital sheet music software, simply move the note fourteen times up or down to your tastes.

Strings
1st + 2nd Violins = increased richness and resonance; miniscule alteration of timbre

1st Violins or 2nd Violins + Violas = increased richness and resonance; minimal alteration of timbre.

Violas + Celli = increased richness, resonance and presence; Celli produces dominant timbre.

Violins (low register) + Celli (upper register) = increased timbre; Celli dominates.

Octave doubling of bass reinforces foundational timbre; should not be done simultaneously with other stringed instruments; bass better used for longer notes differently from other stringed instruments

Woodwinds + Brass
When combined at the same dynamics, woodwinds soften brassy brashness.

Soft brass strengthens loud woodwinds.

Brass timbre usually dominates woodwind timbre.

Doubling useful for woodwinds and brass with overlapping registers. Doubling means two different types of instruments play at the same or similar notes, anywhere they can.

Trumpet doubles well with Flute, Oboe, English Horn, or Clarinet.

Horn doubles well with Clarinet, English Horn, Bass Clarinet, or Bassoon.

Trombone doubles well with English Horn, Bass Clarinet, or Bassoon.

Tuba doubles well with Bassoon and Contrabassoon.

Euphonium does not double well with any woodwind; should be avoided

Woodwinds + Strings
Beautiful blend; timbres accentuate each other.

Highly versatile and adaptable; useful for many styles and moods.

Violins double well with Flute, Oboe and Clarinet.

Violas double well with Clarinet, English Horn, and Bassoon.

Celli double well with Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Bassoon.

Basses double well with Bass Clarinet, Bassoon and Contrabassoon.

Brass + Strings
Difficult blend; timbres conflict and do not accentuate each other.

When combined, strings and brass sound so dissimilar they are perceived differently.

The main exception is Horns and Celli, which blend well together.

Trumpet doubles adequately with violins.

Horn doubles adequately with violas.

Trombone doubles adequately with celli.

Tuba doubles adequately with basses.

Woodwinds + Brass + Strings
Full orchestral timbre blends well, hence why these instruments were assembled to begin with!

Maximises power and resonance, but lacks dynamic expression.

Violins + Trumpet double well with Flute or Oboe or Clarinet

Violas + Horn double well with Clarinet or English Horn or Bassoon

Celli double well with:

Clarinet + Horn

Trombone + Bass Clarinet or Bassoon

Basses + Tuba double well with Clarinet or Bassoon or Contrabassoon.

Dominant timbre varies based on number of players; review Instrumental Balancing above.

Loudness
Loudest low register instrument is Bass Trombone.

Loudest upper register instrument is Piccolo (contrary to its size).

Loudly sustained notes overpower staccato and other brief notes. To balance this, lower sustained instruments' notation to your tastes, or reduce their volume in your DAW via slides, EQ or MIDI velocities.

Generally, woodwinds cannot play softness in their altissimo register.

When orchestrating Tutti, focus on balancing out all woodwinds first, all brass second, and all strings last (or whatever order you prefer; just don't bounce around unrelated instruments).

Start with loudest dynamics when orchestrating crescendo and decrescendo.