Ten Cs in scientific pitch notation

Naming the Octaves

octave, ottava (Italian f.), Oktave (German f.), octave (French f.), octava (Spanish f.)
The convention for naming octaves is fairly arbitrary but can be useful when considering how
chords, that is groups of notes played together, sound. Keeping the notes well spread apart
significantly strengthens the effect of a chord. We illustrate one naming convention below. Each
note C is said to be in a different register.

scientific pitch notation. Helmholtz pitch notation. frequency (where A4, ai = 440 Hz).
octave name
C2 is called 'pedal C' C2 - B2
C(2) - B(2)
C[2] - B[2]
C2 - B2 C - B 65.404 Hz - 124.47 Hz great octave

Große-Oktave (German)
grande octave (French) C3 is called 'bass C' C3 - B3
C(3) - B(3)
C[3] - B[3]
C3 - B3 c - b 130.81 Hz - 246.94 Hz small octave

Kleine Oktave (German)

petite octave (French) C4 is called 'middle C', do centrale (Italian), eingestrichenes c (German),
do central (French, Spanish) C4 - B4
C(4) - B(4)
C[4] - B[4]
C 4 - B 4 c i - bi
c 1 - b1
c' - b' 261.63 Hz - 493.88 Hz
Scientific Pitch Notation has been used to name the notes in the MIDI chart below.
Many domestic pianos, electronic keyboards and the like have ranges smaller than that of a full
concert grand. These small range keyboards are called 'short' keyboards. Counting the notes on a
'short' keyboard will not be an appropriate way of working out the Scientific Pitch names of
notes; for this reason, we favour Helmholtz notation (described immediately above.

Ukulele, Tenor 4 strings

4 courses
Standard/Common:
G3 C4 E4 A4
Alternate:
· High G: G4 C3 E4 A4
Uke, Tenor Uke Hawaii 6- and 8- string versions exist. 6-string has the first (highest) and third
courses doubled; paired strings are tuned in unison. For 8-string, see Taro Patch
Ukulele, Concert 4 strings *******
4 courses
Standard/Common:
G4 C4 E4 A4
Alternate:
· D6 or "soprano": A4 D4 F#4 B4
Uke Hawaii Often just a soprano uke with a slightly longer neck—15, 16 or 18 frets, as opposed
to 12 or 13 frets. Ukulele, Soprano 4 strings
4 courses
Standard/Common:
A4 D4 F#4 B4
Alternate:
· C6 or "concert": G4 C4 E4 A4
Uke Hawaii The standard, basic ukulele.
Guitar 6 strings
6 courses
Standard:
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Common Alternates:
· Drop D: D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
· Open D: D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4
· Open G: D2 G2 D2 G2 B3 D4
· Open A: E2 A2 E3 A3 C#4 E4
· Lute: E2 A2 D3 F#3 B3 E4
· Irish: D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
Arch-top,
Axe, Classical Guitar, Flamenco Guitar, Flat-top, Guit-box, Guit-fiddle, Nylon String Guitar, 6-
string Guitar, Spanish Guitar, Steel-string Guitar
Spain "6-string" / "steel" = guitar with metal strings;
"classical" / "nylon" = guitar with nylon or other synthetic strings;
"flamenco" may have gut or nylon strings.
Open G AKA "bottleneck," "taro patch";
Open A AKA "Spanish";
"Lute tuing" is usually capoed on 3rd fret to give G2 C3 F3 A3 D4 G4, and E2 is often dropped
to D2 (F2 with capo).
There are hundreds of alternate guitar tunings; whole books have been written on the subject.[11
Mandola 8 strings
4 courses
C3 C3•G3 G3•D4 D4•A4 A4 Tenor mandola (Europe) A 5th below mandolin tuning.
Mandolin 8 strings
4 courses
G3 G3•D4 D4•A4 A4•E5 E5 Mando Standard instrument of the mandolin family.
Mandolinetto 8 strings
4 courses
G3 G3•D4 D4•A4 A4•E5 E5 USA and Canada A guitar-shaped mandolin, or mandolin neck on
ukulele body. Mandolin (Octave) 8 strings
4 courses
Standard/Common:
G2 G2•D3 D3•A3 A3•E4 E4
Alternate:
· Irish Bouzouki:
G2 G2•D3 D3•A3 A3•D4 D4
Tenor Mandolin, Irish Bouzouki, Octave mandola (Europe) Pitched 1 octave below the
mandolin.Mandolin (Piccolo) 8 strings
4 courses
C4 C4•G4 G4•D5 D5•A5 A5 Brilliant tone mandolin Tuned a 4th above the mandolin; 1 octave
above the mandola.
Middle C (261.626 Hz) /wiki/File:Middle_C.mid