E♭2 : 77.782 Hz
E♭2 (E-flat 2) is 77.782 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 39. This is the flat spelling of this pitch, see also D♯2.
E♭ is the tonic of E♭ major (3 flats) and one of the most commonly used flat notes in orchestral and jazz music.
E♭2 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 77.782 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 77.257 Hz | -11.72 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 78.488 Hz | +15.64 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 79.021 Hz | +27.36 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 78.710 Hz | +20.53 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 78.399 Hz | +13.68 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 78.293 Hz | +11.34 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 78.399 Hz | +13.68 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 78.134 Hz | +7.82 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 78.399 Hz | +13.68 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 77.870 Hz | +1.96 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 77.958 Hz | +3.91 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E♭2 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) | 77.782 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 78.135 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 78.312 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 76.368 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 73.362 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play E♭2
E♭2 (77.782 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 18 instruments.
E♭2 and D♯2: Enharmonic Equivalents
E♭2 and D♯2 are enharmonic equivalents, they sound identical at 77.782 Hz but are written differently depending on the musical context.
When to Write E♭2
E♭ is the tonic of E♭ major (3 flats) and one of the most commonly used flat notes in orchestral and jazz music.
Composers write E♭ in flat keys and whenever the note functions as part of a flat key signature. In E♭ major, B♭ major, or A♭ major contexts, E♭ is always the correct spelling. Jazz charts almost universally use E♭ rather than D♯.
Major scales containing E♭2: E♭ major (tonic), A♭ major (5th), B♭ major (4th).
Minor scales containing E♭2: C minor (3rd), G minor (6th), F minor (7th).
E♭2 in Instrument Literature
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.
In fixed-do solfège, E♭ is sung as "me" (♭3). In E♭ major with moveable do, it is "do" (the tonic).
How D♯2 Differs in Context
While D♯2 sounds identical to E♭2, it belongs to a different set of keys and carries different harmonic implications.
D♯2: D♯ is the leading tone in E major and appears as a key-signature accidental in sharp keys from E major onward.
Major scales: E major (7th / leading tone), B major (3rd), F♯ major (6th), C♯ major (2nd).
Minor scales: G♯ minor (5th), D♯ minor (tonic), C♯ minor (2nd).
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.
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 E♭2 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E♭2 shows a maximum deviation of +27.36 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, E♭2 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 E♭2, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E♭2 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E♭2 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E♭2 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
E♭2 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how E♭2 (77.782 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places E♭2 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune E♭2 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.
