A♭3 — 207.652 Hz
A♭3 (A-flat 3) is 207.652 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 56. This is the flat spelling of this pitch — see also G♯3.
A♭ is the tonic of A♭ major (4 flats) and appears frequently in Romantic-era piano literature and jazz standards.
A♭3 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 207.652 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 208.829 Hz | +9.79 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 209.300 Hz | +13.69 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 204.936 Hz | -22.79 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 205.610 Hz | -17.11 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 206.266 Hz | -11.59 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 208.122 Hz | +3.91 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 208.122 Hz | +3.91 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 208.122 Hz | +3.91 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 208.122 Hz | +3.91 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 207.417 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 207.417 Hz | -1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
A♭3 at Different Concert Pitches
The same note varies in frequency depending on the concert pitch standard used by your ensemble.
| Concert Pitch | Frequency (Hz) | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| A = 440 Hz (ISO standard) | 207.652 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 208.596 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 209.068 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 203.877 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 195.854 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play A♭3
A♭3 (207.652 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 47 instruments.
A♭3 and G♯3 — Enharmonic Equivalents
A♭3 and G♯3 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical at 207.652 Hz but are written differently depending on the musical context.
When to Write A♭3
A♭ is the tonic of A♭ major (4 flats) and appears frequently in Romantic-era piano literature and jazz standards.
Composers write A♭ in flat-key contexts — as the tonic of A♭ major, the 4th degree of E♭ major, or a chromatic passing tone in flat keys. Chopin, Schubert, and Debussy wrote extensively in A♭ major. In jazz lead sheets, A♭ is the standard spelling.
Major scales containing A♭3: A♭ major (tonic), D♭ major (5th), E♭ major (4th).
Minor scales containing A♭3: F minor (3rd), C minor (6th), B♭ minor (7th).
A♭3 in Instrument Literature
A♭ is one of the most comfortable keys for B♭ clarinet and trumpet (concert A♭ = written B♭). Horn players in orchestral settings read A♭ regularly. Jazz pianists use A♭ major frequently, and it is a staple key in the Great American Songbook repertoire.
In fixed-do solfège, A♭ is sung as "le" (♭6). In A♭ major with moveable do, it is "do" (the tonic).
How G♯3 Differs in Context
While G♯3 sounds identical to A♭3, it belongs to a different set of keys and carries different harmonic implications.
G♯3: G♯ is the leading tone in A major and a key-signature accidental in sharp keys from A major onward.
Major scales: A major (7th / leading tone), E major (3rd), B major (6th), F♯ major (2nd), C♯ major (5th).
Minor scales: C♯ minor (5th), G♯ minor (tonic), F♯ minor (2nd), E minor (3rd, melodic ascending).
String players encounter G♯ in A major, one of the most important keys for violin repertoire. The A major scale (with its 3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯) is fundamental to string technique. Pianists see G♯ in Beethoven sonatas and other Classical-era works in A and E major.
Enharmonic equivalents share the same frequency in equal temperament. In historical temperaments like Pythagorean or meantone, they may differ slightly — see the temperament comparison table above for this note's exact deviations.
Why A♭3 Varies Across Tuning Systems
A♭3 shows a maximum deviation of -22.79 cents in Meantone 1/3 Comma compared to equal temperament. This 23-cent difference is clearly audible to trained musicians and reflects how different tuning philosophies prioritize interval purity over equal distribution.
In Meantone 1/3 Comma, A♭3 is tuned flatter than equal temperament, reflecting this system's approach to distributing the Pythagorean comma across the chromatic scale.
4 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for A♭3, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
A♭3 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how A♭3 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives A♭3 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
A♭3 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how A♭3 (207.652 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places A♭3 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune A♭3 with precision — Get Tunable.
Tunable supports 15+ tuning systems including equal temperament, Pythagorean, just intonation, and historical well-temperaments. See exact Hz values in real-time as you play.
