B5 — 987.767 Hz
B5 (B5) is 987.767 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 83.
B5 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 987.767 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 990.000 Hz | +3.91 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 981.096 Hz | -11.73 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 981.096 Hz | -11.73 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 983.866 Hz | -6.85 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 982.202 Hz | -9.78 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 984.981 Hz | -4.89 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 986.649 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 984.423 Hz | -5.87 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 988.886 Hz | +1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 985.817 Hz | -3.42 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 985.538 Hz | -3.91 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 986.649 Hz | -1.96 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 986.649 Hz | -1.96 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 986.649 Hz | -1.96 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 985.982 Hz | -3.13 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
B5 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) | 987.767 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 992.256 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 994.501 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 969.807 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 931.644 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play B5
B5 (987.767 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 23 instruments.
Why B5 Varies Across Tuning Systems
B5 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), B5 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 B5, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
B5 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how B5 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives B5 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune B5 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.