Note names of musical notes keyboard piano frequencies = octave piano keys tone tones ...

Page 1 of 8

Deutsche Version

Keyboard and frequencies

Naming of musical notes and piano keys
Music notation systems Music frequencies of equal temperament tuning

Chord name finder by note entry

The English and American scientific system versus the German system
The standard tuning pitch is A4 (A above middle C) in German-speaking countries it is called a.
The notes have different names. The German system is used also in many other countries, as there
are e.g. Poland, Czech Republic, and Russia. The frequencies of the 88-key piano keyboard are:
Piano
key number
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62

English
Notation
C8 (last tone)
B7
A 7/B 7
A7
G 7/A 7
G7
F 7/G 7
F7
E7
D 7/E 7
D7
C 7/D 7
C7
B6
A 6/B 6
A6
G 6/A 6
G6
F 6/G 6
F6
E6
D 6/E 6
D6
C 6/D 6
C6 (high C)
B5
A 5/B 5

German
Notation
c
h
ais/b
a
gis/as
g
fis/ges
f
e
dis/es''''
d
cis/des
c
h
ais/b
a
gis/as
g
fis/ges
f
e
dis/es
d
cis/des
c
h
ais/b

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Frequency
Hz
4186.01
3951.07
3729.31
3520.00
3322.44
3135.96
2959.96
2793.83
2637.02
2489.02
2349.32
2217.46
2093.00
1975.53
1864.66
1760.00
1661.22
1567.98
1479.98
1396.91
1318.51
1244.51
1174.66
1108.73
1046.50
987.767
932.328

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Note names of musical notes keyboard piano frequencies = octave piano keys tone tones ...

61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15

A5
G 5/A 5
G5
F 5/G 5
F5
E5
D 5/E 5
D5
C 5/D 5
C5
B4
A 4/B 4
A4 concert pitch
G 4/A 4
G4
F 4/G 4
F4
E4
D 4/E 4
D4
C 4/D 4
C4 (middle C)
B3
A 3/B 3
A3
G 3/A 3
G3
F 3/G 3
F3
E3
D 3/E 3
D3
C 3/D 3
C3
B2
A 2/B 2
A2
G 2/A 2
G2
F 2/G 2
F2
E2
D 2/E 2
D2
C 2/D 2
C2 (low C)
B1

a
gis/as
g
fis/ges
f
e
dis/es
d
cis/des
c
h
ais/b
a Kammerton
gis/as'
g
fis/ges
f
e
dis/es
d
cis/des
c (Schloss-C)
h
ais/b
a
gis/as
g
fis/ges
f
e
dis/es
d
cis/des
c
H
Ais/B
A
Gis/As
G
Fis/Ges
F
E
Dis/Es
D
Cis/Des
C
,H

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880.000
830.609
783.991
739.989
698.456
659.255
622.254
587.330
554.365
523.251
493.883
466.164
440.000
415.305
391.995
369.994
349.228
329.628
311.127
293.665
277.183
261.626
246.942
233.082
220.000
207.652
195.998
184.997
174.614
164.814
155.563
146.832
138.591
130.813
123.471
116.541
110.000
103.826
97.9989
92.4986
87.3071
82.4069
77.7817
73.4162
69.2957
65.4064
61.7354

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Note names of musical notes keyboard piano frequencies = octave piano keys tone tones ...

14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

A 1/B 1
A1
G 1/A 1
G1
F 1/G 1
F1
E1
D 1/E 1
D1
C 1/D 1
C1
B0
A 0/B 0
A0 (first tone)

Page 3 of 8

,Ais/,B ~60 Hz 58.2705

,A
55.0000
,Gis/,As
51.9130
,G
~50 Hz 48.9995
,Fis/,Ges
46.2493
,F
43.6536
,E
41.2035
,Dis/,Es
38.8909
,D
36.7081
,Cis/,Des
34.6479
,C
32.7032
,,H
30.8677
,,Ais/,,B
29.1353
,,A
27.5000

In the twelve-semitone scale the frequency of the next semitone (halftone) is higher or
lower by the factor of twelfth root of two = 1.0594630943592952645618252949463.
A sound engineer should know the following: The AC hum of 50 Hz in Europe is close
to the pitch of G1 = 48.99 Hz (49 Hz). The AC hum of 60 Hz in the U.S. is a minor third
higher close to the pitch of A 1/B 1 = 58.27 Hz (58 Hz).
So you can even find out criminologically, whether a sound recording was made in
Europe or in the U.S.
A pure tone with the frequency f = 440 Hz has the amplitude function:
A = sin (880 t) - where t is given in seconds.
The following equation will give the frequency f of the
nth piano key number, as shown in the table:
Alternatively, this can be written as:

Notes and keyboard

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Page 4 of 8

The concert pitch A4 (a') lies in the octave between C4 (c') and C5 (c'').
Some manufacturers label the 440 Hz concert pitch not correct as A3. It is A4.

Name and frequency of the octave positions

A0
English
German
,,A
Frequency in Hz 27.5

A1
,A
55

A2
A
110

A3
a
220

A4
a
440

A5
a
880

A6
A7
A8
a a a
1760 3520 7040

Numbers of the lowest c note for the respective musical octave.

Ranges of some popular instruments

Instrument
Starts Stops
guitar
E2
E6
seven string guitar B1
E6
cello
C2
A6
4-string bass guitar E1
E5
piano
A0
C8

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Note names of musical notes keyboard piano frequencies = octave piano keys tone tones ...

piccolo
violin

C5
G3

Page 5 of 8

C8
E7

Frequencies of the equal temperament

Octave
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
C / B# 16.352 32.703 65.406 130.813 261.626 523.251 1046.502 2093.005 4186.009 8372.018 16744.036
C# / Db 17.324 34.648 69.296 138.591 277.183 554.365 1108.731 2217.461 4434.922 8869.844 17739.688
D
18.354 36.708 73.416 146.832 293.665 587.330 1174.659 2349.318 4698.636 9397.273 18794.545
D# / Eb 19.445 38.891 77.782 155.563 311.127 622.254 1244.508 2489.016 4978.032 9956.063 19912.127
E / Fb 20.602 41.203 82.407 164.814 329.628 659.255 1318.510 2637.020 5274.041 10548.082
F / E# 21.827 43.654 87.307 174.614 349.228 698.456 1396.913 2793.826 5587.652 11175.303
F# / Gb 23.125 46.249 92.499 184.997 369.994 739.989 1479.978 2959.955 5919.911 11839.822
G
24.500 48.999 97.999 195.998 391.995 783.991 1567.982 3135.963 6271.927 12543.854
G# /
25.957 51.913 103.826 207.652 415.305 830.609 1661.219 3322.438 6644.875 13289.750
Ab
A
27.500 55.000 110.000 220.000 440.000 880.000 1760.000 3520.000 7040.000 14080.000
A# / Bb 29.135 58.270 116.541 233.082 466.164 932.328 1864.655 3729.310 7458.620 14917.240
B / Cb 30.868 61.735 123.471 246.942 493.883 987.767 1975.533 3951.066 7902.133 15804.266
Comparing the Frequency Ratios for Equal Temperament and Pure Harmonic Series

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Note names of musical notes keyboard piano frequencies = octave piano keys tone tones ...

Page 6 of 8

Interval conversions - Frequency ratio to cents and vice versa

Frequency Range of Musical Instruments and Singing Voices
Frequencies of music Ranges - Fundamental frequencies of instruments
also the vocal range: bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano

MIDI note numbers (midi files)

Octave notation is given here in the international standard ISO system, formerly known as
the ASA (Acoustical Society of America) or ANSI system. In this system, middle C (MIDI
note number 60) is C4; octaves start with C, so the B just below (MIDI number 59) is B3.
The lowest note of the normal modern piano is A0 (MIDI 21), though Boesendorfer
Imperials go down to F0 or even C0. The highest note of the piano is C8 (MIDI 108).
Octave #
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

MIDI Note Numbers

C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59
60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83
84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107
108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119
120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127

Note: The MIDI specification only defines note number 60 as "Middle C", and all
other notes are relative. The absolute octave number designations shown here
are based on Middle C = C4, which is an arbitrary assignment.
Method for finding the corresponding MIDI note number for a given frequency:
Original expression f = 440 2(n 69) / 12
Simplification step 1: f / 440 = 2(n 69) / 12
Simplification step 2: log2 (f / 440) = (n 69) / 12
Simplification step 3: 12 log2 (f / 440) = n 69
Formula for finding a MIDI note number given the frequency in Hz of the MIDI note:
n = (12 log2 (f / 440)) + 69
Given the frequency f for a note in Hz, it is possible to find the corresponding
MIDI note number represented by the variable n.
One version of the MIDI system uses C3 to designate Middle C (MIDI note 60 = 261.626 Hz).
That means that the octave designation for MIDI note "0" would be "-2" or notated as C-2.
Another version of the MIDI system uses the lowest note available to the MIDI system (MIDI note 1 =
8.176 Hz) to designate Octave "0" with the notation of C0. In this system, Middle C (MIDI note 60 =
261.626 Hz) is octave 5 with the notation of C5.

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MIDI Notes and their corresponding frequencies

MIDI 60 is C4, and not C5.
Note MIDI Hz
C- 0
8.176
C# - 1
8.662
D- 2
9.177
D# - 3
9.723
E- 4
10.301
F- 5
10.913
F# - 6
11.562
G- 7
12.250
G# - 8
12.978
A- 9
13.750
A# - 10 14.568
B - 11 15.434
C 0 12 16.352
C# 0 13 17.324
D 0 14 18.354
D# 0 15 19.445
E 0 16 20.601
F 0 17 21.826
F# 0 18 23.124
G 0 19 24.499
G# 0 20 25.956
A 0 21 27.50
A# 0 22 29.135
B 0 23 30.867
C 1 24 32.703
C# 1 25 34.648
D 1 26 36.708
D# 1 27 38.890
E 1 28 41.203
F 1 29 43.653
F# 1 30 46.249
G 1 31 48.999

Note MIDI Hz
G# 1 32 51.913
A 1 33 55.000
A# 2 34 58.270
B 1 35 61.735
C 2 36 65.406
C# 2 37 69.295
D 2 38 73.416
D# 2 39 77.781
E 2 40 82.406
F 2 41 87.307
F# 2 42 92.499
G 2 43 97.998
G# 2 44 103.82
A 2 45 110.00
A# 2 46 116.54
B 2 47 123.47
C 3 48 130.81
C# 3 49 138.59
D 3 50 146.83
D# 3 51 155.56
E 3 52 164.81
F 3 53 174.61
F# 3 54 184.99
G 3 55 195.99
G# 3 56 207.65
A 3 57 220.00
A# 3 58 233.08
B 3 59 246.94
C 4 60 261.63
C# 4 61 277.18
D 4 62 293.66
D# 4 63 311.13

Note MIDI Hz
E 4 64 329.63
F 4 65 349.23
F# 4 66 369.99
G 4 67 391.99
G# 4 68 415.31
A 4 69 440.00
A# 4 70 466.16
B 4 71 439.88
C 5 72 523.25
C# 5 73 554.37
D 5 74 587.33
D# 5 75 622.25
E 5 76 659.26
F 5 77 698.46
F# 5 78 739.99
G 5 79 783.99
G# 5 80 830.61
A 5 81 880.00
A# 5 82 932.32
B 5 83 987.77
C 6 84 1046.5
C# 6 85 1108.7
D 6 86 1174.7
D# 6 87 1244.5
E 6 88 1318.5
F 6 89 1396.9
F# 6 90 1480.0
G 6 91 1568.0
G# 6 92 1661.2
A 6 93 1760.0
A# 6 94 1864.7
B 6 95 1975.5

Note MIDI Hz
C 7 96 2093.0
C# 7 97 2217.5
D 7 98 2349.3
D# 7 99 2489.0
E 7 100 2637.0
F 7 101 2793.8
F# 7 102 2960.0
G 7 103 3136.0
G# 7 104 3322.4
A 7 105 3520.0
A# 7 106 3729.3
B 7 107 3951.1
C 8 108 4186.0
C# 8 109 4434.9
D 8 110 4698.6
D# 8 111 4978.0
E 8 112 5274.0
F 8 113 5587.7
F# 8 114 5919.9
G 8 115 6271.9
G# 8 116 6644.9
A 8 117 7040.0
A# 8 118 7458.6
B 8 119 7902.1
C 9 120 8372.0
C# 9 121 8869.8
D 9 122 9397.3
D# 9 123 9956.1
E 9 124 10548.1
F 9 125 11175.3
F# 9 126 11839.8
G 9 127 12543.9

Frequency to Musical Note Converter

Find out what note a given frequency is. English system.

Frequency 443

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Hz

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What note is this?

Note
Offset

cents

The frequency of 440 Hz is the concert pitch note A4.

If someone tells you different, this person is in error.
Since 1939 in many countries the valid standard pitch
is set at A4 = 440 Hz. In German and Austrian symphony
orchestras, however, a tuning for A4 = 443 Hz is common.
In Switzerland it is A4 = 442 Hz. Herbert von Karajan let
tune his Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra even on
A4 = 444 Hz. That is, however, not the standard pitch.

Overtones, partials and harmonics from fundamental frequency

Frequency domain ofmusical instruments and voices

Interval conversions
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