Middle C

In Western music, the expression "middle C" refers to the note "C" located between the staves of the grand staff, quoted as C4 in note-octave notation (also known as Scientific Pitch Notation). It also tends to be to the middle of a keyboard, and it is near the top of the male vocal range and the bottom of the female vocal range.

Related Topics:
Music - Note - Stave - Grand staff - Note-octave - Scientific Pitch Notation - Vocal range

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Although C4 is commonly known by the expression "middle C", the expression is keyboard-specific and players of some instruments may refer to the note by another expression. For example, that note would be "low C" to the player of a Western concert flute as it is in the lowest register of that instrument. Nevertheless, the expression "middle C" is generally unambiguous across instruments and clefs; however, for example, in the case of the Western concert flute, that expression may be ambiguous as C5 (one octave up from C4) is in the second (being the middle) register of that instrument.

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When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the middle C note is approximately 261.6 hertz. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Related Topics:
Equal temperament - Hz - Frequency - Note - Pitch (music)

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