A is a
musical note
In music, notes are distinct and isolatable sounds that act as the most basic building blocks for nearly all of music. This musical analysis#Discretization, discretization facilitates performance, comprehension, and musical analysis, analysis. No ...
equivalent to 440 Hz in typical
A440 tuning. It is the sixth
note of La and the tenth
semitone of the
fixed-do solfège.
Its
enharmonic equivalents are B (B double-flat) and G (G double-sharp).
"A" is generally used as a
standard for tuning. When the orchestra tunes, the
oboe
The oboe ( ) is a type of double-reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites.
The most common type of oboe, the soprano oboe pitched in C, ...
plays an "A" and the rest of the instruments tune to match that pitch. Every string instrument in the orchestra has an A string, from which each player can tune the rest of their instrument.
"A" is also used in combination with a number (e.g. A-440) to label the pitch standard. The number designates the
frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. Frequency is an important parameter used in science and engineering to specify the rate of oscillatory and vibratory phenomena, such as mechanical vibrations, audio ...
in
hertz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or Cycle per second, cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in ter ...
. A lower number indicates a lower pitch.
The
International Standards Organization (ISO) has standardized the pitch at
A-440. However, tuning has varied over time, geographical region, or instrument maker. In 17th-century Europe, tunings ranged from about A-374 to A-403, approximately two to three
semitones below A-440. Historical examples exist of instruments, tuning forks, or standards ranging from A-309 to A-455.3,
a difference of almost six semitones. Although the official standard today is A-440, some orchestral groups and chamber groups prefer to tune a little higher, at A-442 or even A-444.
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
pitch is usually cited as A-415, which is a semitone lower than modern pitch.
A
0 is the lowest note on standard
piano
A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
s with 88 keys, and the rarer older 85-key pianos.
Designation by octave
Scales
Common scales beginning on A
*
A major: A B C D E F G A
*
A natural minor: A B C D E F G A
* A
harmonic minor: A B C D E F G A
* A
melodic minor ascending: A B C D E F G A
* A melodic minor descending: A G F E D C B A
Diatonic scale
In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale, heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by eith ...
s
* A
Ionian: A B C D E F G A
* A
Dorian: A B C D E F G A
* A
Phrygian: A B C D E F G A
* A
Lydian: A B C D E F G A
* A
Mixolydian: A B C D E F G A
* A
Aeolian: A B C D E F G A
* A
Locrian: A B C D E F G A
Jazz melodic minor
* A
Ascending melodic minor: A B C D E F G A
* A
Dorian ♭2: A B C D E F G A
* A
Lydian augmented: A B C D E F G A
* A
Lydian dominant: A B C D E F G A
* A
Mixolydian ♭6: A B C D E F G A
* A
Locrian ♮2: A B C D E F G A
* A
Altered: A B C D E F G A
See also
*
Piano key frequencies
*
A major
*
A minor
*
Root (chord)
In the music theory of harmony, the root is a specific Note (music), note that names and typifies a given chord (music), chord. Chords are often spoken about in terms of their root, their Chord quality, quality, and their Chord extensions, exten ...
References
External links
Standard Pitch or Concert Pitch for Pianosby Barrie Heaton
{{Semitones
Musical notes