D♯6 : 1244.508 Hz
D♯6 (D-sharp 6) is 1244.508 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 87. This is the sharp spelling of this pitch, see also E♭6.
D♯ is the leading tone in E major and appears as a key-signature accidental in sharp keys from E major onward.
D♯6 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 1244.508 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 1236.104 Hz | -11.73 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 1255.803 Hz | +15.64 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 1264.339 Hz | +27.37 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 1259.354 Hz | +20.53 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 1254.388 Hz | +13.69 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 1252.687 Hz | +11.34 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 1254.388 Hz | +13.69 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 1250.142 Hz | +7.82 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 1254.388 Hz | +13.69 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 1245.918 Hz | +1.96 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 1247.322 Hz | +3.91 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
D♯6 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) | 1244.508 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 1250.165 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 1252.993 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 1221.881 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 1173.797 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play D♯6
D♯6 (1244.508 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 14 instruments.
D♯6 and E♭6: Enharmonic Equivalents
D♯6 and E♭6 are enharmonic equivalents, they sound identical at 1244.508 Hz but are written differently depending on the musical context.
When to Write D♯6
D♯ is the leading tone in E major and appears as a key-signature accidental in sharp keys from E major onward.
Composers write D♯ when the note functions as the leading tone in E major or as a raised 4th degree. In ascending melodic passages in sharp keys, D♯ correctly shows the upward pull toward E. Writing E♭ in an E major context would be theoretically incorrect.
Major scales containing D♯6: E major (7th / leading tone), B major (3rd), F♯ major (6th), C♯ major (2nd).
Minor scales containing D♯6: G♯ minor (5th), D♯ minor (tonic), C♯ minor (2nd).
D♯6 in Instrument Literature
String players encounter D♯ in keys like E major and B major. Violinists use the open E string as a reference point, making D♯ a natural leading tone. Pianists see D♯ in sharp-side key signatures.
In fixed-do solfège, D♯ is sung as "ri" (♯2). In E major with moveable do, it is "ti" (the leading tone).
How E♭6 Differs in Context
While E♭6 sounds identical to D♯6, it belongs to a different set of keys and carries different harmonic implications.
E♭6: E♭ is the tonic of E♭ major (3 flats) and one of the most commonly used flat notes in orchestral and jazz music.
Major scales: E♭ major (tonic), A♭ major (5th), B♭ major (4th).
Minor scales: C minor (3rd), G minor (6th), F minor (7th).
E♭ is the home key for alto saxophone and baritone saxophone (E♭ instruments). Brass players in flat keys and clarinetists see E♭ constantly. It is one of the most common notes in concert band literature.
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 D♯6 Varies Across Tuning Systems
D♯6 shows a maximum deviation of +27.37 cents in Meantone 1/3 Comma compared to equal temperament. This 27-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, D♯6 is tuned sharper than equal temperament to achieve purer intervals with nearby notes in the tuning system's favored keys.
8 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for D♯6, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
D♯6 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how D♯6 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives D♯6 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
D♯6 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how D♯6 (1244.508 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places D♯6 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune D♯6 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.
