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Potentiometer Taper Charts

For more information, please see our interactive demonstration of these taper charts.

Linear Taper

~R~ = total resistance of the potentiometer, measured between the potentiometer hot and cold lugs

Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation
Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Audio Taper

~R~ = nominal resistance of the potentiometer, measured between the potentiometer hot and cold lugs

Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation
Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Reverse Audio Taper

~R~ = nominal resistance of the potentiometer, measured between the potentiometer hot and cold lugs

Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation
Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Audio Taper (No Load)

"No Load" - hot lug is disconnected from the resistive track, resulting in an open circuit at full rotation.

~R~ = nominal resistance of the potentiometer, measured between the potentiometer wiper and cold lugs

Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation
Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

M and N Taper (Blend-Balance)

~R~ = nominal resistance of the potentiometer, measured between the potentiometer wiper and cold lugs (M for top pot, N for bottom pot)

Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation
Side View of PotentiometerDual Gang with Center Detent
Schematic Representation

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

M and N Taper (Blend-Balance)

~R~ = nominal resistance of the potentiometer, M (top pot) measured between the potentiometer wiper and cold lug, N (bottom pot) measured between the potentiometer wiper and hot lug

Bottom View of PotentiometerSchematic Representation
Side View of PotentiometerDual Gang with Center Detent
Schematic Representation

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:

Resistance vs. Percent Rotation:
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