C (musical note) - Wikipedia

1 of 5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(musical_note)

C (musical note)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In terms of musical pitch, C or Do is the first note of the

fixed-Do solfge scale.

Contents
Middle C

Play .

1
2
3
4

Middle C
Designation by octave
Graphic presentation
Scales
4.1 Common scales beginning on C
4.2 Diatonic scales
4.3 Jazz Melodic Minor
5 B sharp
6 See also
7 References

Middle C
When the A440 pitch standard is used to tune a musical instrument, Middle C has a frequency
around 261.6 Hz. Middle C is designated C4 in scientific pitch notation because of the note's
position as the fourth C key from left on a standard 88-key piano keyboard.
Another system known as scientific pitch assigns a frequency of 256 Hz but, while numerically
convenient, this is not used by orchestras. Other note-octave systems, including those used by some
makers of digital music keyboards, may refer to Middle C differently. In MIDI, Middle C is note
number 60.
The C4 designation is the most commonly recognized in auditory science, and in musical studies it
is often used in place of the Helmholtz designation c'.
While the expression "Middle C" is generally clear across instruments and clefs, some musicians
naturally use the term to refer to the C note in the middle of their specific instrument's range. C 4
may be called "Low C" by someone playing a Western concert flute, which has a higher and
narrower playing range than the piano, while C5 (523.251 Hz) would be Middle C. This technically
inaccurate practice has led some pedagogues to encourage standardizing on C 4 as the definitive
Middle C in instructional materials across all instruments.[1]

1/18/2017 3:52 PM

C (musical note) - Wikipedia

2 of 5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(musical_note)

In vocal music, the term Soprano C, sometimes called "High C" or "Top C," is the C two octaves
above Middle C. It is so named because it is considered the defining note of the soprano voice type.
It is C6 in scientific pitch notation (1046.502 Hz) and c''' in Helmholtz notation. The term Tenor C
is sometimes used in vocal music to refer to C5, as it is the highest required note in the standard
tenor repertoire. The term Low C is sometimes used in vocal music to refer to C2 because this is
considered the divide between true basses and bass-baritones: a basso can sing this note easily
while other male voices, including bass-baritones, cannot.
In organ music, the term Tenor C can refer to an organ builder's term for small C or C3
(130.813 Hz), the note one octave below Middle C. In stoplists it usually means that a rank is not
full compass, omitting the bottom octave.[2]
For the frequency of each note on a standard piano, see piano key frequencies.

Designation by octave

1/18/2017 3:52 PM

C (musical note) - Wikipedia

3 of 5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(musical_note)

Scientific
designation

Helmholtz
designation

Bilinear
music
notation

Octave
name

Frequency
(Hz)

Octocontra

4.088

Play

8.176

Play

Other names

Audio

C-2

C or C
or CCCCC

C-1

C or C or
(-uC)
CCCC

Subsubcontra

C0

C or C or
CCC

(-vC)

Subcontra

16.352

Play

C1

C or C or
CC

(-wC)

Contra

32.703

Play

C2

(-xC)

Great

65.406 Low C

Play

C3

(-yC)

Small

130.813

C4

(zC)

One-lined

261.626 Middle C

C5

(yC)

Two-lined

523.251

N/A

Bass C, Tenor C
(organ)

Tenor C (vocal),
Treble C

Play
Play
Play

C6

(xC)

Three-lined

Soprano C
(vocal), High C
1046.502
(vocal), Top C
(vocal)

C7

(wC)

Four-lined

2093.005

Play

C8

(vC)

Five-lined

4186.009 Eighth octave C

Play

C9

(uC)

Six-lined

8372.018

Play

C10

(tC)

Seven-lined

16744.036

Play

Play

Graphic presentation

Middle C in four clefs

1/18/2017 3:52 PM

C (musical note) - Wikipedia

4 of 5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(musical_note)

Position of Middle C on an 88-key keyboard

Scales
Common scales beginning on C
C Major: C D E F G A B C
C Natural Minor: C D E F G A B C
C Harmonic Minor: C D E F G A B C
C Melodic Minor Ascending: C D E F G A B C
C Melodic Minor Descending: C B A G F E D C

Diatonic scales
C Ionian: C D E F G A B C
C Dorian: C D E F G A B C
C Phrygian: C D E F G A B C
C Lydian: C D E F G A B C
C Mixolydian: C D E F G A B C
C Aeolian: C D E F G A B C
C Locrian: C D E F G A B C

Jazz Melodic Minor

C Ascending Melodic Minor: C D E F G A B C
C Dorian 2: C D E F G A B C
C Lydian Augmented: C D E F G A B C
C Lydian Dominant: C D E F G A B C
C Mixolydian 6: C D E F G A B C
C Locrian 2: C D E F G A B C
C Altered: C D E F G A B C

B sharp
Twelve just perfect fifths (B) and seven octaves do not align as in equal temperament.

1/18/2017 3:52 PM

C (musical note) - Wikipedia

5 of 5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(musical_note)

Pythagorean: 701.955 12 = 8423.46 = 23.46 =

B+++
ET: 700 12 = 8400 = 0 = B = C
1200 7 = 8400 = 0 = C
This difference, 23.46 cents (531441/524288), is known
as the Pythagorean comma.

See also
Piano key frequencies
A440 (pitch standard)
C major
C minor
Root (chord)

Comparison of notes derived from, or

near, twelve perfect fifths (B).

References
1. Large, John (February 1981). "Theory in Practice: Building a Firm Foundation". Music Educators
Journal. 32: 3035.
2. Wakin, Daniel J. (2007-09-09). "The Note That Makes Us Weep". New York Times. Retrieved
2007-12-12.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C_(musical_note)&oldid=742698147"

Categories: Musical notes
This page was last modified on 5 October 2016, at 06:56.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional
terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
organization.

1/18/2017 3:52 PM