Piano Guidance
Photo by Julia Volk Pexels Logo Photo: Julia Volk

Is C4 always middle C?

Middle C (the fourth C key from left on a standard 88-key piano keyboard) is designated C4 in scientific pitch notation, and c′ in Helmholtz pitch notation; it is note number 60 in MIDI notation.

en.wikipedia.org - C (musical note) - Wikipedia
How do you know your shifting?
How do you know your shifting?

There are certain symptoms when you're trying to shift that will let you know that you're getting close. Some of these symptoms include feeling...

Read More »
What is the fastest reverse?
What is the fastest reverse?

(Motor Authority) — A new Guinness World Record has been set for the fastest mile driven in reverse, with a time of 1:15.18. The record was set on...

Read More »

Note in western music

C or Do is the first note and semitone of the C major scale, the third note of the A minor scale (the relative minor of C major), and the fourth note (G, A, B, C) of the Guidonian hand, commonly pitched around 261.63 Hz. The actual frequency has depended on historical pitch standards, and for transposing instruments a distinction is made between written and sounding or concert pitch. It has enharmonic equivalents of B♯ and D . In English the term Do is used interchangeably with C only by adherents of fixed Do solfège; in the movable Do system Do refers to the tonic of the prevailing key.

Frequency [ edit ]

Historically, concert pitch has varied. For an instrument in equal temperament tuned to the A440 pitch standard widely adopted in 1939, middle C has a frequency around 261.63 Hz (for other notes see piano key frequencies). Scientific pitch was originally proposed in 1713 by French physicist Joseph Sauveur and based on the numerically convenient frequency of 256 Hz for middle C, all C's being powers of two. After the A440 pitch standard was adopted by musicians, the Acoustical Society of America published new frequency tables for scientific use. A movement to restore the older A435 standard has used the banners "Verdi tuning", "philosophical pitch" or the easily confused scientific pitch.

Octave nomenclature [ edit ]

Middle C [ edit ]

Middle C (the fourth C key from left on a standard 88-key piano keyboard) is designated C 4 in scientific pitch notation, and c′ in Helmholtz pitch notation; it is note number 60 in MIDI notation.[1] 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 C 5 (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.[2] On the Grand Staff, Middle C is notated with a ledger line above the top line of the bass staff or below the bottom line of the treble staff. Alternatively, it is written on the centre line of a staff using the alto clef, or on the fourth line from the bottom, or the second line from the top, of staves using the tenor clef.

Other octaves [ edit ]

Is F Minor sad key?
Is F Minor sad key?

Hermann von Helmholtz once described F minor as harrowing and melancholy. Christian Schubart described this key as "Deep depression, funereal...

Read More »
What is the most famous shanty town?
What is the most famous shanty town?

Globally, some of the largest shanty towns are Ciudad Neza in Mexico, Orangi in Pakistan and Dharavi in India. They are known by various names in...

Read More »

In vocal music, the term High C (sometimes called Top C[3]) can refer to either the soprano's C 6 (1046.502 Hz; c′′′ in Helmholtz notation) or the tenor's C 5 ; both are written as the C two ledger lines above the treble clef but the tenor voice sings an octave lower. The term Low C is sometimes used in vocal music to refer to C 2 because this is considered the divide between true basses and bass-baritones: a basso can sing this note easily, whereas other male voices, including bass-baritones, typically cannot. Tenor C is an organ builder's term for small C or C 3 (130.813 Hz), the note one octave below Middle C. In older stoplists it usually means that a rank was not yet full compass, omitting the bottom octave, until that octave was added later on.

Designation by octave [ edit ]

Scientific designation Helmholtz designation Octave name Frequency (Hz) Other names Audio C −1 C͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵C or CCCC Octocontra 8.176 Quadruple Low C (64' Organ Pipes) C 0 C͵͵ or ͵͵C or CCC Subcontra 16.352 Triple Low C (32' Organ Pipes), Octobass C C 1 C͵ or ͵C or CC Contra 32.703 Double Low C (16' Organ Pipes), (Double Bass w/ either Low C Extension, 5 Strings, or in 5ths Tuning) C 2 C Great 65.406 Low C, cello C, 8' C (see organ pipe length) C 3 c Small 130.813 4' C or Tenor C (organ), viola C, Tenor Middle C (Tenor Voice) C 4 c′ One-lined 261.626 Middle C for Sopranos 2' Organ pipes C 5 c′′ Two-lined 523.251 Treble C, Tenor High C (written an octave higher for tenor voices), [4] 1' Organ Pipes C 6 c′′′ Three-lined 1046.502 High C (soprano) C 7 c′′′′ Four-lined 2093.005 Double high C[ citation needed ] C 8 c′′′′′ Five-lined 4186.009 Eighth octave C, triple high C C 9 c′′′′′′ Six-lined 8372.018 Quadruple high C C 10 c′′′′′′′ Seven-lined 16744.036 Quintuple high C Note that for a classical piano and musical theory, the middle C is usually labelled as C 4 ; However, in the MIDI standard definition (like the one used in Apple's GarageBand), this middle C (261.626 Hz) is labelled C 3 . In practice, a MIDI software can label middle C (261.626 Hz) as C 3 –C 5 , which can cause confusion, especially for beginners. The frequencies given in this table are based on the standard that A=440Hz and with equal temperament

Graphic presentation [ edit ]

How do I become a piano teacher in Canada?
How do I become a piano teacher in Canada?

You successfully complete the RCM Piano Teacher Course, submit 2 successful piano exam candidates at the required levels within two years, and hold...

Read More »
What is key replacement cover?
What is key replacement cover?

The Key Replacement Cover is an add-on which provides coverage for the cost of replacement of the insured car's key if the key is lost, damaged, or...

Read More »

Middle C in four clefs

Position of Middle C on a standard 88-key keyboard

Scales [ edit ]

Common scales beginning on C [ edit ]

C major: C D E F G A B C

C natural minor: C D E ♭ F G A ♭ B ♭ C F G A B C C harmonic minor: C D E ♭ F G A ♭ B C F G A B C C melodic minor ascending: C D E ♭ F G A B C F G A B C C melodic minor descending: C B ♭ A ♭ G F E ♭ D C

C Ionian: C D E F G A B C

C Dorian: C D E ♭ F G A B ♭ C

F G A B C C Phrygian: C D ♭ E ♭ F G A ♭ B ♭ C E F G A B C C Lydian: C D E F ♯ G A B C G A B C C Mixolydian: C D E F G A B ♭ C C C Aeolian: C D E ♭ F G A ♭ B ♭ C F G A B C C Locrian: C D ♭ E ♭ F G ♭ A ♭ B ♭ C C ascending melodic minor: C D E ♭ F G A B C F G A B C C Dorian ♭2: C D ♭ E ♭ F G A B ♭ C E F G A B C C Lydian augmented: C D E F ♯ G ♯ A B C G A B C C Lydian dominant: C D E F ♯ G A B ♭ C G A B C C Mixolydian ♭6: C D E F G A ♭ B ♭ C B C C Locrian ♮2: C D E ♭ F G ♭ A ♭ B ♭ C F G A B C C altered: C D ♭ E ♭ F ♭ G ♭ A ♭ B ♭ C

See also [ edit ]

en.wikipedia.org - C (musical note) - Wikipedia
What happens at first piano lesson?
What happens at first piano lesson?

If the student is a beginner, the teacher will begin by showing the basic techniques regarding the positioning of hands, fingers and even posture...

Read More »
What is the fear of scary music called?
What is the fear of scary music called?

Fear of loud noise is referred to as phonophobia, sonophobia, or ligyrophobia. This condition is not caused by hearing loss, or any type of hearing...

Read More »
Can you skip music grades?
Can you skip music grades?

The short answer is yes. But how? Since the ABRSM music assessments are known worldwide, there are experiences of many students who have skipped at...

Read More »
How do I find the right music teacher?
How do I find the right music teacher?

When seeking a music teacher: Consult with friends, family and others who are acquainted with teachers in your community. Ask for recommendations...

Read More »