Pitch notation is a way to identify frequencies—notably, piano octave numbers—using letters, numbers, and/or symbols, allowing for the quick reference of a specific pitch. This lets you avoid having to explain a note by its position on the staff, or by its relative location on the keyboard. For example, instead of saying or writing “the C two octaves below middle C,” you would use the notation C2.
Pitch Notation Systems
In each pitch-naming system, octaves start over on C; so each note after C1 is also followed by a 1 (D1, E1, and so on). The two notes on a piano keyboard that come before C1 are A0 and B0. Brandy Kraemer
However, despite its goal of simplifying things, some confusion may arise with pitch notation because there are a few main systems in use. These are:
Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN)American system, pictured above. Middle C is C4.Full SPN keyboardHelmholtz Pitch NotationGerman system. Middle C is ci.Full Helmholtz keyboard with variationsEnglish Pitch NotationSimilar to Helmholtz but differs in the lower octaves. Middle C is c1.Full English keyboardSolfège NotationRomance language system. Uses words and numbers to name notes. Middle C is do3.Full solfège keyboardMIDI NotationUsed to convert computer commands into musical pitch. Middle C is note #60.Full MIDI-labeled keyboard
Pitch Class & Octave Names
Each octave begins on C; so C3 is in the third or “small octave,” and C4 is in the fourth or “one-line octave.”. Brandy Kraemer
Pitch class simply refers to an octave from one C to the next. In pitch notation, the notes C4, D4, and B4 belong to the same pitch class, which is the fourth octave.
But, pitch notation is just one way of referencing notes. Each octave, as well as each C, has its own universal name. These are as follows:
Octave Names (pictured above):C0 - B0: sub-contra octave (A0 is the lowest pitch on a full piano)C1 - B1: contra octaveC2 - B2: great octaveC3 - B3: small octaveC4 - B4: one-line octave, or 2nd small octave (contains both middle C and A440)C5 - B5: two-line octave, or 3rd small octaveC6 - B6: three-line octave, or 4th small octaveC7 - B7: four-line octave, or 5th small octaveC8 - B8: five-line octave, or 6th small octave (C8 is the highest pitch on a full piano)Names of the C-Notes:C0: triple pedal CC1: double pedal CC2: pedal CC3: bass CC4: middle CC5: treble CC6: top C or high CC7: double top C or double high CC8: triple top C or triple high C
All of the notes may be called out using these systems. F1 is also known as “contra F” or “double pedal F.”
Watch Now: The Dynamics of the Piano Keyboard
Pitch notation is a way to identify frequencies—notably, piano octave numbers—using letters, numbers, and/or symbols, allowing for the quick reference of a specific pitch. This lets you avoid having to explain a note by its position on the staff, or by its relative location on the keyboard. For example, instead of saying or writing “the C two octaves below middle C,” you would use the notation C2.
Pitch Notation Systems
In each pitch-naming system, octaves start over on C; so each note after C1 is also followed by a 1 (D1, E1, and so on). The two notes on a piano keyboard that come before C1 are A0 and B0. Brandy Kraemer
However, despite its goal of simplifying things, some confusion may arise with pitch notation because there are a few main systems in use. These are:
Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN)American system, pictured above. Middle C is C4.Full SPN keyboardHelmholtz Pitch NotationGerman system. Middle C is ci.Full Helmholtz keyboard with variationsEnglish Pitch NotationSimilar to Helmholtz but differs in the lower octaves. Middle C is c1.Full English keyboardSolfège NotationRomance language system. Uses words and numbers to name notes. Middle C is do3.Full solfège keyboardMIDI NotationUsed to convert computer commands into musical pitch. Middle C is note #60.Full MIDI-labeled keyboard
Pitch Class & Octave Names
Each octave begins on C; so C3 is in the third or “small octave,” and C4 is in the fourth or “one-line octave.”. Brandy Kraemer
Pitch class simply refers to an octave from one C to the next. In pitch notation, the notes C4, D4, and B4 belong to the same pitch class, which is the fourth octave.
But, pitch notation is just one way of referencing notes. Each octave, as well as each C, has its own universal name. These are as follows:
Octave Names (pictured above):C0 - B0: sub-contra octave (A0 is the lowest pitch on a full piano)C1 - B1: contra octaveC2 - B2: great octaveC3 - B3: small octaveC4 - B4: one-line octave, or 2nd small octave (contains both middle C and A440)C5 - B5: two-line octave, or 3rd small octaveC6 - B6: three-line octave, or 4th small octaveC7 - B7: four-line octave, or 5th small octaveC8 - B8: five-line octave, or 6th small octave (C8 is the highest pitch on a full piano)Names of the C-Notes:C0: triple pedal CC1: double pedal CC2: pedal CC3: bass CC4: middle CC5: treble CC6: top C or high CC7: double top C or double high CC8: triple top C or triple high C
All of the notes may be called out using these systems. F1 is also known as “contra F” or “double pedal F.”
Watch Now: The Dynamics of the Piano Keyboard
Pitch notation is a way to identify frequencies—notably, piano octave numbers—using letters, numbers, and/or symbols, allowing for the quick reference of a specific pitch. This lets you avoid having to explain a note by its position on the staff, or by its relative location on the keyboard. For example, instead of saying or writing “the C two octaves below middle C,” you would use the notation C2.
Pitch Notation Systems
In each pitch-naming system, octaves start over on C; so each note after C1 is also followed by a 1 (D1, E1, and so on). The two notes on a piano keyboard that come before C1 are A0 and B0. Brandy Kraemer
However, despite its goal of simplifying things, some confusion may arise with pitch notation because there are a few main systems in use. These are:
Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN)American system, pictured above. Middle C is C4.Full SPN keyboardHelmholtz Pitch NotationGerman system. Middle C is ci.Full Helmholtz keyboard with variationsEnglish Pitch NotationSimilar to Helmholtz but differs in the lower octaves. Middle C is c1.Full English keyboardSolfège NotationRomance language system. Uses words and numbers to name notes. Middle C is do3.Full solfège keyboardMIDI NotationUsed to convert computer commands into musical pitch. Middle C is note #60.Full MIDI-labeled keyboard
Pitch Class & Octave Names
Each octave begins on C; so C3 is in the third or “small octave,” and C4 is in the fourth or “one-line octave.”. Brandy Kraemer
Pitch class simply refers to an octave from one C to the next. In pitch notation, the notes C4, D4, and B4 belong to the same pitch class, which is the fourth octave.
But, pitch notation is just one way of referencing notes. Each octave, as well as each C, has its own universal name. These are as follows:
Octave Names (pictured above):C0 - B0: sub-contra octave (A0 is the lowest pitch on a full piano)C1 - B1: contra octaveC2 - B2: great octaveC3 - B3: small octaveC4 - B4: one-line octave, or 2nd small octave (contains both middle C and A440)C5 - B5: two-line octave, or 3rd small octaveC6 - B6: three-line octave, or 4th small octaveC7 - B7: four-line octave, or 5th small octaveC8 - B8: five-line octave, or 6th small octave (C8 is the highest pitch on a full piano)Names of the C-Notes:C0: triple pedal CC1: double pedal CC2: pedal CC3: bass CC4: middle CC5: treble CC6: top C or high CC7: double top C or double high CC8: triple top C or triple high C
All of the notes may be called out using these systems. F1 is also known as “contra F” or “double pedal F.”
Watch Now: The Dynamics of the Piano Keyboard
Pitch notation is a way to identify frequencies—notably, piano octave numbers—using letters, numbers, and/or symbols, allowing for the quick reference of a specific pitch. This lets you avoid having to explain a note by its position on the staff, or by its relative location on the keyboard. For example, instead of saying or writing “the C two octaves below middle C,” you would use the notation C2.
Pitch Notation Systems
In each pitch-naming system, octaves start over on C; so each note after C1 is also followed by a 1 (D1, E1, and so on). The two notes on a piano keyboard that come before C1 are A0 and B0. Brandy Kraemer
However, despite its goal of simplifying things, some confusion may arise with pitch notation because there are a few main systems in use. These are:
Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN)American system, pictured above. Middle C is C4.Full SPN keyboardHelmholtz Pitch NotationGerman system. Middle C is ci.Full Helmholtz keyboard with variationsEnglish Pitch NotationSimilar to Helmholtz but differs in the lower octaves. Middle C is c1.Full English keyboardSolfège NotationRomance language system. Uses words and numbers to name notes. Middle C is do3.Full solfège keyboardMIDI NotationUsed to convert computer commands into musical pitch. Middle C is note #60.Full MIDI-labeled keyboard
Pitch Class & Octave Names
Each octave begins on C; so C3 is in the third or “small octave,” and C4 is in the fourth or “one-line octave.”. Brandy Kraemer
Pitch class simply refers to an octave from one C to the next. In pitch notation, the notes C4, D4, and B4 belong to the same pitch class, which is the fourth octave.
But, pitch notation is just one way of referencing notes. Each octave, as well as each C, has its own universal name. These are as follows:
Octave Names (pictured above):C0 - B0: sub-contra octave (A0 is the lowest pitch on a full piano)C1 - B1: contra octaveC2 - B2: great octaveC3 - B3: small octaveC4 - B4: one-line octave, or 2nd small octave (contains both middle C and A440)C5 - B5: two-line octave, or 3rd small octaveC6 - B6: three-line octave, or 4th small octaveC7 - B7: four-line octave, or 5th small octaveC8 - B8: five-line octave, or 6th small octave (C8 is the highest pitch on a full piano)Names of the C-Notes:C0: triple pedal CC1: double pedal CC2: pedal CC3: bass CC4: middle CC5: treble CC6: top C or high CC7: double top C or double high CC8: triple top C or triple high C
All of the notes may be called out using these systems. F1 is also known as “contra F” or “double pedal F.”
Pitch Notation Systems
However, despite its goal of simplifying things, some confusion may arise with pitch notation because there are a few main systems in use. These are:
Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN)American system, pictured above. Middle C is C4.Full SPN keyboardHelmholtz Pitch NotationGerman system. Middle C is ci.Full Helmholtz keyboard with variationsEnglish Pitch NotationSimilar to Helmholtz but differs in the lower octaves. Middle C is c1.Full English keyboardSolfège NotationRomance language system. Uses words and numbers to name notes. Middle C is do3.Full solfège keyboardMIDI NotationUsed to convert computer commands into musical pitch. Middle C is note #60.Full MIDI-labeled keyboard
Full SPN keyboard
Full Helmholtz keyboard with variations
Full English keyboard
Full solfège keyboard
Full MIDI-labeled keyboard
Pitch Class & Octave Names
Pitch class simply refers to an octave from one C to the next. In pitch notation, the notes C4, D4, and B4 belong to the same pitch class, which is the fourth octave.
But, pitch notation is just one way of referencing notes. Each octave, as well as each C, has its own universal name. These are as follows:
- Octave Names (pictured above):C0 - B0: sub-contra octave (A0 is the lowest pitch on a full piano)C1 - B1: contra octaveC2 - B2: great octaveC3 - B3: small octaveC4 - B4: one-line octave, or 2nd small octave (contains both middle C and A440)C5 - B5: two-line octave, or 3rd small octaveC6 - B6: three-line octave, or 4th small octaveC7 - B7: four-line octave, or 5th small octaveC8 - B8: five-line octave, or 6th small octave (C8 is the highest pitch on a full piano)Names of the C-Notes:C0: triple pedal CC1: double pedal CC2: pedal CC3: bass CC4: middle CC5: treble CC6: top C or high CC7: double top C or double high CC8: triple top C or triple high C
All of the notes may be called out using these systems. F1 is also known as “contra F” or “double pedal F.”
Watch Now: The Dynamics of the Piano Keyboard
