98_Chasin_153-162Apdx

12/6/08

10:30 AM

Page 153

APPENDIX A

Musical Note to Frequency

Conversion Chart
A0

A3

110

A6

880

B0

B3

123

B6

988

C0

16

C3

131

C6

1047

D0

18

D3

147

D6

1175

E0

21

E3

165

E6

1319

F0

22

F3

175

F6

1397

G0

25

G3

196

G6

1568

A1

28

A4

220

A7

1760

B1

31

B4

247

B7

1976

C1

33

C4

262

C7

2093

D1

37

D4

294

D7

2349

E1

41

E4

330

E7

2637

F1

44

F4

349

F7

2794

G1

49

G4

392

G7

3136

A2

55

A5

440

A8

3520

B2

62

B5

494

B8

3951

C2

65

C5

523

C8

4186

D2

73

D5

587

D8

4699

E2

82

E5

659

E8

5274

F2

87

F5

698

F8

5588

G2

98

G5

784

G8

6272

Conversion chart from letter note to frequency (Hz). Middle C on the piano keyboard is C4 at 262 Hz, and
the highest note on the piano is C8 at 4186 Hz. Hearing is typically tested between C4 and an octave above
the highest note on the piano keyboard. A common notation is to have both the note and the frequency
together, as A[440], which is also A5. To get the semitone frequency, multiply the note below it by 122 or
1.0595. Note. From The Acoustical Foundations of Music (p. 153), by J. Backus, 1977, New York: W. W.
Norton & Company, Inc. Copyright 1977 by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Adapted with permission.

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