Middle C
Encyclopedia
C or Do is the first note of the fixed-Do solfège
scale. Its enharmonic
is B.
because of the note's position as the fourth C key on a standard 88-key piano
keyboard. While other note-octave systems (including those used by some manufacturers of digital music keyboards) may refer to "Middle C" with a different designation, the C4 designation is the most commonly recognized in auditory science and in musical studies it is frequently used in place of the Helmholtz
designation c'.
While the expression "Middle C" is generally clear across instruments and clefs, some musicians tend to use the term to refer to the C note in the middle of their specific instrument's range. For example, C4 may be called "Low C" by someone playing a Western concert flute
(which has a higher and narrower playing range than a piano), while C5 (523.251 Hz) would be "Middle C". This technically inaccurate practice has led some pedagogues to encourage standardizing on C4 as the definitive "Middle C" in instructional materials across all instruments.
Within vocal music the term Soprano C, sometimes called High C, is the C two octave
s above Middle C. It is so named because it is considered the defining note of the soprano voice type
. It is also called C6 in scientific pitch notation (1046.502 Hz). In Helmholtz notation, it is c'''.
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 tenor C can also 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.
The term Profondo C is sometimes used in vocal music to refer to C2 as it is usually considered the dividing line between bassi profondi and other bass voice types. A profondo can sing this note easily while most other basses cannot.
For the frequency of each note on a standard piano, see piano key frequencies
.
Solfege
In music, solfège is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solfège syllable...
scale. Its enharmonic
Enharmonic
In modern musical notation and tuning, an enharmonic equivalent is a note , interval , or key signature which is equivalent to some other note, interval, or key signature, but "spelled", or named, differently...
is B.
Middle C
Middle C is designated C4 in scientific pitch notationScientific pitch notation
Scientific pitch notation is one of several methods that name the notes of the standard Western chromatic scale by combining a letter-name, accidentals, and a number identifying the pitch's octave...
because of the note's position as the fourth C key on a standard 88-key piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
keyboard. While other note-octave systems (including those used by some manufacturers of digital music keyboards) may refer to "Middle C" with a different designation, the C4 designation is the most commonly recognized in auditory science and in musical studies it is frequently used in place of the Helmholtz
Helmholtz pitch notation
Helmholtz pitch notation is a musical system for naming notes of the Western chromatic scale. Developed by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz, it uses a combination of upper and lower case letters , and the sub- and super-prime symbols to describe each individual note of the scale...
designation c'.
While the expression "Middle C" is generally clear across instruments and clefs, some musicians tend to use the term to refer to the C note in the middle of their specific instrument's range. For example, C4 may be called "Low C" by someone playing a Western concert flute
Western concert flute
The Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
(which has a higher and narrower playing range than a piano), while C5 (523.251 Hz) would be "Middle C". This technically inaccurate practice has led some pedagogues to encourage standardizing on C4 as the definitive "Middle C" in instructional materials across all instruments.
Within vocal music the term Soprano C, sometimes called High C, is the C two octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
s above Middle C. It is so named because it is considered the defining note of the soprano voice type
Voice type
A voice type is a particular kind of human singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics. Voice classification is the process by which human voices are evaluated and are thereby designated into voice types...
. It is also called C6 in scientific pitch notation (1046.502 Hz). In Helmholtz notation, it is c'''.
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 tenor C can also refer to an organ builder's
Organ builder
-Australia:* William Anderson * Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd* Robert Cecil Clifton * William Davidson* J.E. Dodd & Sons Gunstar Organ Works* Fincham & Hobday* Geo. Fincham & Son* Alfred Fuller * Peter D.G. Jewkes Pty Ltd...
term for small C or C3 (130.813 Hz), the note one octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
below Middle C. In stoplists it usually means that a rank
Organ stop
An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Its name comes from the fact that stops can be used selectively by the organist; some can be "on" , while others can be "off" .The term can also refer...
is not full compass, omitting the bottom octave.
The term Profondo C is sometimes used in vocal music to refer to C2 as it is usually considered the dividing line between bassi profondi and other bass voice types. A profondo can sing this note easily while most other basses cannot.
For the frequency of each note on a standard piano, see piano key frequencies
Piano key frequencies
This is a virtual keyboard showing the absolute frequencies in hertz of the notes on a modern piano in twelve-tone equal temperament, with the 49th key, the fifth A , tuned to 440 Hz...
.
Designation by octave
| Scientific Scientific pitch notation Scientific pitch notation is one of several methods that name the notes of the standard Western chromatic scale by combining a letter-name, accidentals, and a number identifying the pitch's octave... designation |
Helmholtz Helmholtz pitch notation Helmholtz pitch notation is a musical system for naming notes of the Western chromatic scale. Developed by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz, it uses a combination of upper and lower case letters , and the sub- and super-prime symbols to describe each individual note of the scale... designation |
Bilinear music notation | Octave name | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-1 | C͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵C | (-uC) | Subsubcontra | 8.176 |
| C0 | C͵͵ or ͵͵C | (-vC) | Subcontra | 16.352 |
| C1 | C͵ or ͵C | (-wC) | Contra | 32.703 |
| C2 | C | (-xC) | Great | 65.406 |
| C3 | c | (-yC) | Small | 130.813 |
| C4 (Middle C) | c′ | (zC) | One-lined | 261.626 |
| C5 | c′′ | (yC) | Two-lined | 523.251 |
| C6 | c′′′ | (xC) | Three-lined | 1046.502 |
| C7 | c′′′′ | (wC) | Four-lined | 2093.005 |
| C8 | c′′′′′ | (vC) | Five-lined | 4186.009 |
| C9 | c′′′′′′ | (uC) | Six-lined | 8372.018 |
| C10 | c′′′′′′′ | (tC) | Seven-lined | 16744.036 |
Graphic presentation
See also
- Piano key frequenciesPiano key frequenciesThis is a virtual keyboard showing the absolute frequencies in hertz of the notes on a modern piano in twelve-tone equal temperament, with the 49th key, the fifth A , tuned to 440 Hz...
- Eighth octave CEighth octave CThe musical note C8 is the C two full octaves above soprano high C. The note is one octave above the top of common musical keyboards, but the highest note of an 88-key piano...
(C8) - C majorC majorC major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
- C minorC minorC minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The harmonic minor raises the B to B. Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with naturals and accidentals as necessary.Its key signature consists of three flats...