C8 — 4186.009 Hz
C8 (C8) is 4186.009 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 108.
C8 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 4186.009 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 4171.840 Hz | -5.87 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 4186.009 Hz | 0.00 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 4219.242 Hz | +13.69 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 4210.891 Hz | +10.26 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 4202.605 Hz | +6.85 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 4208.751 Hz | +9.38 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 4210.891 Hz | +10.26 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 4200.226 Hz | +5.87 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 4214.468 Hz | +11.73 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 4204.960 Hz | +7.82 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 4200.226 Hz | +5.87 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
C8 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) | 4186.009 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 4205.036 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 4214.550 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 4109.900 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 3948.168 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play C8
C8 (4186.009 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 3 instruments.
Why C8 Varies Across Tuning Systems
C8 shows a maximum deviation of +13.69 cents in Meantone 1/3 Comma compared to equal temperament. This 14-cent difference reflects how different tuning philosophies prioritize interval purity over equal distribution.
In Meantone 1/3 Comma, C8 is tuned sharper than equal temperament to achieve purer intervals with nearby notes in the tuning system's favored keys.
4 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for C8, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
C8 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how C8 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives C8 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
C8 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how C8 (4186.009 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places C8 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune C8 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.
