C♯5 — 554.365 Hz
C♯5 (C-sharp 5) is 554.365 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 73. This is the sharp spelling of this pitch — see also D♭5.
C♯ is the leading tone in D major and a key-signature accidental in all sharp keys from D major onward.
C♯5 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 554.365 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 556.875 Hz | +7.82 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 558.135 Hz | +11.73 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 548.761 Hz | -17.59 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 549.999 Hz | -13.69 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 551.284 Hz | -9.65 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 554.993 Hz | +1.96 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 554.522 Hz | +0.49 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 554.993 Hz | +1.96 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 554.993 Hz | +1.96 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 552.489 Hz | -5.87 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 554.993 Hz | +1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
C♯5 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) | 554.365 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 556.885 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 558.145 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 544.286 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 522.867 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play C♯5
C♯5 (554.365 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 42 instruments.
C♯5 and D♭5 — Enharmonic Equivalents
C♯5 and D♭5 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical at 554.365 Hz but are written differently depending on the musical context.
When to Write C♯5
C♯ is the leading tone in D major and a key-signature accidental in all sharp keys from D major onward.
Composers write C♯ when the harmonic context involves sharp keys — for instance, as the leading tone resolving up to D in D major, or as the 3rd of an A major chord. In ascending passages within sharp keys, C♯ is the correct spelling.
Major scales containing C♯5: D major (7th / leading tone), A major (3rd), E major (6th), B major (2nd), F♯ major (5th), C♯ major (tonic).
Minor scales containing C♯5: F♯ minor (5th), C♯ minor (tonic), G♯ minor (4th), B minor (2nd).
C♯5 in Instrument Literature
String instruments (violin, viola, cello) encounter C♯ frequently in sharp keys like D major and A major, which are natural keys for bowed strings. Guitarists use C♯ in keys like A and E major.
In fixed-do solfège, C♯ is sung as "di" (♯1). In D major with moveable do, it is "ti" (the leading tone).
How D♭5 Differs in Context
While D♭5 sounds identical to C♯5, it belongs to a different set of keys and carries different harmonic implications.
D♭5: D♭ is the tonic of D♭ major (5 flats) and appears as a scale degree in several flat keys.
Major scales: D♭ major (tonic), G♭ major (5th), A♭ major (4th).
Minor scales: B♭ minor (3rd), F minor (6th), E♭ minor (7th).
Wind and brass players encounter D♭ frequently. B♭ instruments (clarinet, trumpet) read it in their common flat-side keys, and French horn parts in flat keys use it regularly.
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 C♯5 Varies Across Tuning Systems
C♯5 shows a maximum deviation of -17.59 cents in Meantone 1/3 Comma compared to equal temperament. This 18-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, C♯5 is tuned flatter than equal temperament, reflecting this system's approach to distributing the Pythagorean comma across the chromatic scale.
3 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for C♯5, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
C♯5 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how C♯5 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives C♯5 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
C♯5 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how C♯5 (554.365 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places C♯5 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune C♯5 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.
