B2 — 123.471 Hz
B2 (B2) is 123.471 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 47.
B2 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 123.471 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 123.750 Hz | +3.91 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 122.637 Hz | -11.73 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 122.637 Hz | -11.73 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 122.983 Hz | -6.86 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 122.775 Hz | -9.79 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 123.123 Hz | -4.89 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 123.331 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 123.053 Hz | -5.87 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 123.611 Hz | +1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 123.227 Hz | -3.42 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 123.192 Hz | -3.92 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 123.331 Hz | -1.96 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 123.331 Hz | -1.96 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 123.331 Hz | -1.96 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 123.248 Hz | -3.13 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
B2 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) | 123.471 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 124.032 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 124.313 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 121.226 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 116.455 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play B2
B2 (123.471 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 26 instruments.
Why B2 Varies Across Tuning Systems
B2 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), B2 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 B2, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
B2 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how B2 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives B2 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune B2 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.