E♭3 — 155.563 Hz
E♭3 (E-flat 3) is 155.563 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 51. This is the flat spelling of this pitch — see also D♯3.
E♭ is the tonic of E♭ major (3 flats) and one of the most commonly used flat notes in orchestral and jazz music.
E♭3 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 155.563 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 154.513 Hz | -11.72 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 156.975 Hz | +15.64 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 158.042 Hz | +27.37 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 157.419 Hz | +20.53 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 156.799 Hz | +13.70 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 156.586 Hz | +11.35 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 156.799 Hz | +13.70 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 156.268 Hz | +7.83 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 156.799 Hz | +13.70 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 155.740 Hz | +1.97 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 155.915 Hz | +3.91 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E♭3 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) | 155.563 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 156.271 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 156.624 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 152.735 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 146.725 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play E♭3
E♭3 (155.563 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 34 instruments.
E♭3 and D♯3 — Enharmonic Equivalents
E♭3 and D♯3 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical at 155.563 Hz but are written differently depending on the musical context.
When to Write E♭3
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♭3: E♭ major (tonic), A♭ major (5th), B♭ major (4th).
Minor scales containing E♭3: C minor (3rd), G minor (6th), F minor (7th).
E♭3 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♯3 Differs in Context
While D♯3 sounds identical to E♭3, it belongs to a different set of keys and carries different harmonic implications.
D♯3: 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♭3 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E♭3 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, E♭3 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♭3, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E♭3 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E♭3 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E♭3 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
E♭3 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how E♭3 (155.563 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places E♭3 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune E♭3 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.
