Piano key frequencies

This is a virtual piano with 88 keys tuned to A440, showing the frequencies, in cycles per second (Hz), of each note (ie note frequencies of each note found on a standard piano). This distribution of frequencies is known as equal temperament, i.e. each successive pitch is derived by multiplying the previous by the twelfth root of two. For example, A4 is normally tuned to 440 Hz. To get the next semitone (Amusic|#4), multiply 440 Hz by the twelfth root of two. To go from A4 to B4 (up two semitones), multiply 440 by the twelfth root of two squared. For other tuning schemes refer to Musical tuning.

This list of frequencies is for a theoretical ideal piano. On an actual piano the ratio between semitones is slightly larger, especially at the high and low ends, due to string thickness which causes inharmonicity due to the nonzero force required to bend steel piano wire even in the absence of tension. This effect is sometimes known as stretched octaves, and the pattern of deviation is called the Railsback curve.

Virtual piano

ee also

*Piano tuning

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070305040009/http://wiki.highinbcgallery.com/index.php/Almost_a_shape/technology/Piano_frequencies/Piano_frequency_table.pl Piano frequency table.pl] - A small GFDL perl script containing the information from the table on this page in a perl data structure.
* [http://shakahara.com/pianopitch2.php interactive piano frequency table] — A php script allowing the reference pitch of A49 to be altered from 440 Hz.