G♯4 : 415.305 Hz
G♯4 (G-sharp 4) is 415.305 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 68. This is the sharp spelling of this pitch, see also A♭4.
G♯ is the leading tone in A major and a key-signature accidental in sharp keys from A major onward.
G♯4 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 415.305 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean Tuning | 417.657 Hz | +9.78 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just / Pure | 418.601 Hz | +13.69 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Meantone 1/3 Comma | 409.871 Hz | -22.80 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Meantone 1/4 Comma | 411.220 Hz | -17.11 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| 1/6 SC - Attenuated | 412.531 Hz | -11.60 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Kellner's Bach | 416.244 Hz | +3.91 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
| Kirnberger III | 416.244 Hz | +3.91 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 416.244 Hz | +3.91 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Werckmeister III | 416.244 Hz | +3.91 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 414.835 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 414.835 Hz | -1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
G♯4 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) | 415.305 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 417.192 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 418.136 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 407.754 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 391.708 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play G♯4
G♯4 (415.305 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 46 instruments.
G♯4 and A♭4: Enharmonic Equivalents
G♯4 and A♭4 are enharmonic equivalents, they sound identical at 415.305 Hz but are written differently depending on the musical context.
When to Write G♯4
G♯ is the leading tone in A major and a key-signature accidental in sharp keys from A major onward.
Composers write G♯ in sharp-key contexts, as the leading tone of A major, the 3rd of E major, or a chromatic neighbor tone in sharp keys. When a note resolves upward to A, the correct spelling is G♯ (not A♭), because it shows the note's harmonic function as a leading tone.
Major scales containing G♯4: A major (7th / leading tone), E major (3rd), B major (6th), F♯ major (2nd), C♯ major (5th).
Minor scales containing G♯4: C♯ minor (5th), G♯ minor (tonic), F♯ minor (2nd), E minor (3rd, melodic ascending).
G♯4 in Instrument Literature
String players encounter G♯ in A major, one of the most important keys for violin repertoire. The A major scale (with its 3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯) is fundamental to string technique. Pianists see G♯ in Beethoven sonatas and other Classical-era works in A and E major.
In fixed-do solfège, G♯ is sung as "si" (♯5). In A major with moveable do, it is "ti" (the leading tone).
How A♭4 Differs in Context
While A♭4 sounds identical to G♯4, it belongs to a different set of keys and carries different harmonic implications.
A♭4: A♭ is the tonic of A♭ major (4 flats) and appears frequently in Romantic-era piano literature and jazz standards.
Major scales: A♭ major (tonic), D♭ major (5th), E♭ major (4th).
Minor scales: F minor (3rd), C minor (6th), B♭ minor (7th).
A♭ is one of the most comfortable keys for B♭ clarinet and trumpet (concert A♭ = written B♭). Horn players in orchestral settings read A♭ regularly. Jazz pianists use A♭ major frequently, and it is a staple key in the Great American Songbook repertoire.
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 G♯4 Varies Across Tuning Systems
G♯4 shows a maximum deviation of -22.80 cents in Meantone 1/3 Comma compared to equal temperament. This 23-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, G♯4 is tuned flatter than equal temperament, reflecting this system's approach to distributing the Pythagorean comma across the chromatic scale.
4 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for G♯4, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
G♯4 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how G♯4 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives G♯4 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
G♯4 in Historical Temperament Systems
Explore how G♯4 (415.305 Hz in equal temperament) is tuned in each of the 15 historical non-equal temperament systems. Each system places G♯4 at a slightly different frequency based on its mathematical basis.
Tune G♯4 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.
