Formant Frequencies These formant frequencies in Hertz for orchestral instruments are suggested by Backus, Ch 6, Table I. Instrument Formant I Formant II Flute 800 ... Oboe 1400 3000 English Horn 930 2300 Clarinet 1500-1700 3700-4300 Bassoon 440-500 1220-1280 Trumpet 1200- 1400 2500 Trombone 600-800 ... Tuba 200-400 ... French Horn 400-500 ... A formant is a favored frequency range of a musical instrument, demonstrated by a peak in the harmonic spectrum of the sound of the instrument. This favored frequency may stay essentially the same even if the fundamental is continually changing. The relative stability of the favored frequency with changing fundamental pitch may be associated with some sort of resonance. But as Wolfe has pointed out, the resultant favored frequency is not in general equal to a specific resonant frequency of the structure, though resonances are part of the determining causes. Since the confluence of several factors may influence the actual peaks of the harmonic spectrum, perhaps the best use of the word formant is just as a term to reference the observed peaks. The concept of formants is particularly important in understanding speech, since the vocal formants provide much of the distinction between sustained vowel sounds. Formants also occur with musical instruments, and are of particular note with woodwinds. For example, the bassoon shows formant behavior over much of its playing range. Musical Acoustics Applications Composition of the orchestra