Instrument Quiz compatibility chart
For each of the 8 instruments, two that are easy to be with and one that may clash. A clash does not mean either side is wrong — they simply value different things.
Trumpet
- Easy together Tuba A fellow brass instrument: in a concert band, the two split into the high melody and the low foundation. The more the Tuba holds things up from below, the more freely the Trumpet can play out.
- Easy together Double Bass The Double Bass keeps the beat down low no matter how many sounds pile up. Knowing the foundation behind it won't wobble, the Trumpet can step out in front with confidence.
- May clash Ocarina The Ocarina plays melodies with a small, soft sound, even on its own. When the Trumpet sounds beside it, the Ocarina is easily drowned out, and the gap in volume leaves both unsure what to do.
Piano
- Easy together Double Bass The two sit side by side in a jazz piano trio. When it can leave the low notes of the left hand to the Double Bass, the Piano can use both hands for melody and chords.
- Easy together Flute Flute and piano is a popular duo. Supporting the Flute's clear melody gives the Piano's own sound more depth too.
- May clash Trumpet Both ring out, and both like to carry the melody. When they both step forward in the same place, the people around them can't tell whose sound to listen to.
Tuba
- Easy together Trumpet In a concert band, the Tuba's low notes hold up the Trumpet's high melody from below. The role that steps forward and the role that builds the foundation divide naturally.
- Easy together Flute In a concert band, the Flute plays high and the Tuba plays low, covering the top and bottom of the range. Sounds far apart widen the whole band's sound.
- May clash Harp The Harp's sound is delicate and hard to hear amid loud sounds. When the Tuba plays in its usual way, it can easily cover up the Harp's fine resonance.
Accordion
- Easy together Ocarina Because an accordion's volume can be adjusted by how you work the bellows, it can lay down an accompaniment to match the Ocarina's small sound. Both are portable, so they can easily team up wherever they go.
- Easy together Tuba In dance music like the polka, accordion and tuba often play together. When the Tuba takes the bass, the Accordion can focus on keeping the chords going.
- May clash Piano Both can play melody and chords, so when they play together, their parts easily overlap. Unless they decide up front which one will play the accompaniment, they tend to clash.
Flute
- Easy together Piano Flute and piano is a common duo. The Piano builds the whole structure, so the Flute can focus on the melody.
- Easy together Harp When the Harp's shimmering chords spread out below, the Flute can let its breath out long and thin and keep the melody floating. Mozart even wrote a concerto pairing the two.
- May clash Trumpet In a concert band, the Flute's sound is easily buried when the Trumpet plays. When the two share the same melody, the gap in force can leave them unsure of each other.
Ocarina
- Easy together Accordion When the Accordion lays chords underneath, the Ocarina's simple melody becomes much richer. Even a small sound carries farther than it would played alone.
- Easy together Harp The Harp's sound is soft too, and doesn't cover the Ocarina. As two quiet instruments, they can play together while really listening to each other.
- May clash Tuba Next to the Tuba's big low notes, the Ocarina's small sound has trouble getting through. The Tuba wants to play with a crowd; the Ocarina wants to play quietly on its own. They feel at home in different places.
Double Bass
- Easy together Piano The Piano can build a whole piece on its own. Just by running one line of low notes underneath that structure, the Double Bass can settle the whole sound.
- Easy together Trumpet With a partner who steps forward and takes the melody, the Double Bass can relax and focus on the low end. It's a pairing often seen in jazz, too.
- May clash Harp Both quietly take the supporting side, so when it's just the two of them, nobody starts the melody. They can end up each waiting for the other to move first, and nothing gets going.
Harp
- Easy together Flute The Harp's broken chords softly wrap around the Flute's clear melody. With a partner it can trust to take the lead, the Harp can focus on wrapping the sound.
- Easy together Ocarina The Harp's resonance can quietly accompany the Ocarina's simple melody. Both make small sounds, so each can hear the other clearly as they play.
- May clash Tuba The Tuba's big low notes can easily cover the Harp's fine resonance. The Tuba wants to hold up the whole group in a big way; the Harp wants to wrap things gently. They support on different scales.
It is more fun once you know which one you are. 18 questions, about 3 minutes.
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