B1 — 61.735 Hz
B1 (B1) is 61.735 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 35.
B1 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 61.735 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 61.875 Hz | +3.92 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 61.318 Hz | -11.73 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 61.318 Hz | -11.73 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 61.492 Hz | -6.83 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 61.388 Hz | -9.76 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 61.561 Hz | -4.89 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 61.666 Hz | -1.94 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 61.526 Hz | -5.87 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 61.805 Hz | +1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 61.614 Hz | -3.40 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 61.596 Hz | -3.90 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 61.666 Hz | -1.94 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 61.666 Hz | -1.94 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 61.666 Hz | -1.94 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 61.624 Hz | -3.12 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
B1 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) | 61.735 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 62.016 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 62.156 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 60.613 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 58.228 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play B1
B1 (61.735 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 13 instruments.
Why B1 Varies Across Tuning Systems
B1 shows a maximum deviation of -11.73 cents in Just Intonation (Major) compared to equal temperament. This 12-cent difference reflects how different tuning philosophies prioritize interval purity over equal distribution.
In Just Intonation (Major), B1 is tuned flatter than equal temperament, reflecting this system's approach to distributing the Pythagorean comma across the chromatic scale.
2 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for B1, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
B1 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how B1 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives B1 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune B1 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.