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Standard C4 pitch notationWritten-out pitch notation often uses the format of middle C being equal to C4. This page attempts to describe this format, since it is the one used in The Diva's Descriptive Art Song Catalog. <THEORY TEACHER=ON> :-) Basically, any standard Western pitch can be described using two elements: a pitch name (such as C, or F#, or Bb) and an octave number (such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) The pitch names follow standard rules. Just spell it as you see it, not using any enharmonic shortcuts (if the note is a B# or a Gbb, write it that way). The octave number follows three rules.
You can figure out any octave number with those three rules. Therefore, C3 is an octave below middle C (C4). D3 is a minor seventh below middle C. B4 is a major seventh above middle C (C4). E5 is an octave and a major third. Here is a list of an ascending chromatic scale (using sharps) from an octave below middle C to an octave above: C3 C#3 D3 D#3 E3 F3 F#3 G3 G#3 A3 A#3 B3 Got it? Good. Now, to end up, I'm going to confuse you. What number would the Cb a half step below middle C (C4) be? It is enharmonically equivalent to B3, so would it be Cb3? No. Look at the second octave number rule: "Second, the number changes at every pitch C (be it C, C#, Cb, etc.)."It can be Cb, Cbb, or whatever and the octave number will be the same as C. Therefore, the answer is Cb4. Hope that helps! <THEORY TEACHER=OFF> If you came here from a form, press your browser's back arrow to return to the data you've already entered. Otherwise, choose a blank form on the left or go to another page using the menu at the top.
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