Instrument Frequency Range & Stage SPL Reference

Reference: FREQ-SPL-01. Two quick-lookup charts: where an instrument's fundamental and harmonics actually sit in the frequency spectrum, and roughly how loud it is on stage before you even put a mic on it. Useful as a sanity check before you start cutting/boosting, or before you set a gain structure that's already fighting the source.

Fundamental Frequency Range by Instrument Family

Source	Approx. fundamental range
Male voice	100Hz–8kHz (fundamentals ~100–300Hz)
Female voice	150Hz–10kHz (fundamentals ~150–500Hz)
Kick drum	40–100Hz fundamental, click/attack up to 4kHz
Snare drum	100–250Hz body, snap/rattle up to 8kHz+
Cymbals	300Hz–15kHz+
Bass guitar	40Hz–400Hz fundamental, harmonics to ~2kHz
Electric guitar	80Hz–5kHz
Acoustic guitar	80Hz–8kHz
Piano	27Hz–4.5kHz fundamental, harmonics well beyond
Saxophone	100Hz–5kHz
Trumpet/brass	150Hz–8kHz (bright harmonic content)
Violin	200Hz–10kHz+
Cello	65Hz–5kHz

Typical Stage SPL at ~10ft

Acoustic guitar	~80–90dB SPL
Violin	~85–95dB SPL
Piano (forte)	~90–100dB SPL
Male/female voice (projected)	~90–100dB SPL
Trumpet	~100–110dB SPL
Saxophone	~100–110dB SPL
Snare drum (hit)	~105–115dB SPL
Bass drum (hit)	~105–115dB SPL
Full drum kit (close)	~110–120dB SPL

These are ballpark figures, not measured constants — actual level depends heavily on the player, the room, and how hard the source is being driven. Use them to sanity-check a mic preamp gain setting or an EQ move, not as a spec to design a system around.

Source: Shure Incorporated, Microphone Techniques for Live Sound Reinforcement, pp.12–13. Rewritten in Ryan's own words from the source material.