F2 · 87.31 Hz

F2 is piano key 21 of 88 and MIDI note 41 - the bass register, where bass lines and a male bass voice live. Play the pure tone below, tune to it, or explore the note in every octave.

87.31Hz
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F2 on the staff and the piano

On the bass clef, F2 sits just below the bottom line, with no ledger line.

On the piano, F2 is key 21 of 88, octave 2 - a white key. It is 19 semitones below middle C (C4, key 40).

C4F2

Play it on the online piano, or see all 88 note frequencies on one page.

F2 at a glance

Frequency
87.31 Hz
Wavelength (in air)
3.93 m
MIDI note
41
Piano key
21 / 88
Octave
2
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 F2 is exactly 440 × 2^(-28/12) Hz. Under alternative references the note shifts with the reference: at A4 = 432 Hz, F2 becomes 85.72 Hz.

F in every octave

NoteFrequencyMIDIPiano key
F143.65 Hz299
F2 ←87.31 Hz4121
F3174.61 Hz5333
F4349.23 Hz6545
F5698.46 Hz7757
F61396.9 Hz8969
F72793.8 Hz10181

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

Who plays F2

F2 is within the usual range of the piano, guitar, bass guitar, cello, double bass and trombone. Among voice types it falls in the usual range of bass.

Instruments
  • Piano: A0–C8
  • Guitar (standard tuning): E2–E6
  • Bass guitar (4-string): E1–G4
  • Cello: C2–A5
  • Double bass: E1–G4
  • Trombone (tenor): E2–F5
Voices
  • Bass voice: E2–E4

Ranges are approximate: they are the commonly cited sounding (concert) pitches, and real ranges vary by player, instrument, tuning and repertoire. Guitar, bass guitar and double bass are written an octave higher than they sound; B♭ clarinet and trumpet are written a whole tone higher.

Neighboring notes

One semitone down is E2 at 82.41 Hz; one semitone up is F♯2 at 92.50 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.

F2 FAQ

What frequency is F2?

F2 is 87.31 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 F2 sits 28 semitones below A4.

What MIDI number and piano key is F2?

F2 is MIDI note 41 and key 21 of 88 on a standard piano. Octave numbering follows scientific pitch notation, where middle C is C4 (MIDI 60).

Where is F2 on the piano and the staff?

F2 is key 21 of 88 on a standard piano, in octave 2, 19 semitones below middle C. On the bass clef staff it sits just below the bottom line, with no ledger line.

How do I tune to F2?

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 19.7 cents off.