B4 — 493.883 Hz
B4 (B4) is 493.883 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 71.
B4 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 493.883 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 495.000 Hz | +3.91 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 490.548 Hz | -11.73 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 491.101 Hz | -9.78 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 491.933 Hz | -6.85 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 492.490 Hz | -4.89 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 492.991 Hz | -3.13 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 492.909 Hz | -3.42 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 492.769 Hz | -3.91 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 493.324 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 492.212 Hz | -5.87 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 494.443 Hz | +1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
B4 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) | 493.883 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 496.128 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 497.251 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 484.904 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 465.822 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play B4
B4 (493.883 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 43 instruments.
Why B4 Varies Across Tuning Systems
B4 shows a maximum deviation of -11.73 cents in Just / Pure compared to equal temperament. This 12-cent difference reflects how different tuning philosophies prioritize interval purity over equal distribution.
In Just / Pure, B4 is tuned flatter than equal temperament, reflecting this system's approach to distributing the Pythagorean comma across the chromatic scale.
B4 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how B4 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives B4 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
B4 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how B4 (493.883 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places B4 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune B4 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.
