C4 · 261.63 Hz

C4 is piano key 40 of 88 and MIDI note 60 - the middle register, centered on middle C and most melodies and voices. Play the pure tone below, tune to it, or explore the note in every octave.

261.63Hz
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Waveform

C4 at a glance

Frequency
261.63 Hz
Wavelength (in air)
1.31 m
MIDI note
60
Piano key
40 / 88
Octave
4
Enharmonic

All values assume twelve-tone equal temperament at the international standard pitch of A4 = 440 Hz. In that system every semitone has the same size - a frequency ratio of 2^(1/12) - so C4 is exactly 440 × 2^(-9/12) Hz. Under alternative references the note shifts with the reference: at A4 = 432 Hz, C4 becomes 256.87 Hz.

C in every octave

NoteFrequencyMIDIPiano key
C132.70 Hz244
C265.41 Hz3616
C3130.81 Hz4828
C4261.63 Hz6040
C5523.25 Hz7252
C61046.5 Hz8464
C72093.0 Hz9676
C84186.0 Hz10888

Each octave doubles the frequency - the simplest relationship in music, and the reason notes an octave apart sound like “the same note, higher”.

Neighboring notes

One semitone down is B3 at 246.94 Hz; one semitone up is C♯4 at 277.18 Hz. Need a frequency between notes, or a different waveform? The tone generator plays anything from 20 Hz to 20 kHz; the note ↔ frequency converter does the math both directions, and the chromatic tuner listens to your instrument and shows the offset in cents.

C4 FAQ

What frequency is C4?

C4 is 261.63 Hz in twelve-tone equal temperament with the standard reference of A4 = 440 Hz. Every semitone step multiplies the frequency by the twelfth root of two (about 1.0595), and C4 sits 9 semitones below A4.

What MIDI number and piano key is C4?

C4 is MIDI note 60 and key 40 of 88 on a standard piano. Octave numbering follows scientific pitch notation, where middle C is C4 (MIDI 60).

How do I tune to C4?

Play the tone above and match your instrument by ear until the beating between the two pitches slows and disappears, or use the chromatic tuner with your microphone for a cents readout. Small mistunings show up as slow beats: one beat per second at this pitch means you are about 6.6 cents off.