C (C-sharp) 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 ...
lying a
chromatic semitone above
C and a
diatonic semitone
A semitone, also called a minor second, half step, or a half tone, is the smallest interval (music), musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most Consonance and dissonance#Dissonance, dissonant when sounde ...
below
D; it is the second
semitone of the
solfège
In music, solfège (British English or American English , ) or solfeggio (; ), also called sol-fa, solfa, solfeo, among many names, is a mnemonic used in teaching aural skills, Pitch (music), pitch and sight-reading of Western classical music, W ...
. C-sharp is thus
enharmonic to
D. It is the second semitone in the French
solfège
In music, solfège (British English or American English , ) or solfeggio (; ), also called sol-fa, solfa, solfeo, among many names, is a mnemonic used in teaching aural skills, Pitch (music), pitch and sight-reading of Western classical music, W ...
and is known there as ''do dièse''. In some European notations, it is known as Cis. In equal temperament it is also enharmonic with B (B-double sharp/Hisis).
When calculated in
equal temperament
An equal temperament is a musical temperament or Musical tuning#Tuning systems, tuning system that approximates Just intonation, just intervals by dividing an octave (or other interval) into steps such that the ratio of the frequency, frequencie ...
with a reference of
A above
middle C
C or Do is the first note of the C major scale, the third note of the A minor scale (the relative minor of C major), and the fourth note (G, A, B, C) of the Guidonian hand, commonly pitched around 261.63 Hz. The actual frequency has d ...
as 440
Hz, 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 ...
of C
4 (the C above middle C) is about 277.183 Hz.
See
pitch (music)
Pitch is a perception, perceptual property that allows sounds to be ordered on a frequency-related scale (music), scale,
or more commonly, pitch is the quality that makes it possible to judge sounds as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associate ...
for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.
Designation by octave
Scales
Common scales beginning on C
*
C major: C D E F G A B C
*
C natural minor: C D E F G A B C
* C
harmonic minor: C D E F G A B C
* C
melodic minor ascending: C D E F G A B C
* C melodic minor descending: C B A G F E D C
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
* C
Ionian: C D E F G A B C
* C
Dorian: C D E F G A B C
* C
Phrygian: C D E F G A B C
* C
Lydian: C D E F G A B C
* C
Mixolydian: C D E F G A B C
* C
Aeolian: C D E F G A B C
* C
Locrian: C D E F G A B C
Jazz melodic minor
* C
ascending melodic minor: C D E F G A B C
* C
Dorian ♭2: C D E F G A B C
* C
Lydian augmented: C D E F G A B C
* C
Lydian dominant: C D E F G A B C
* C
Mixolydian ♭6: C D E F G A B C
* C
Locrian ♮2: C D E F G A B C
* C
Altered: C D E F G A B C
References
See also
*
Piano key frequencies
This is a list of the fundamental frequencies in hertz (cycles per second) of the keys of a modern 88-key standard or 108-key extended piano in twelve-tone equal temperament, with the 49th key, the fifth A (called A4), tuned to 440 Hz (refe ...
*
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 ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Csharp
Musical notes