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Notes and frequenciesThe way your question is phrased indicates some confusion on your part.

First, you must understand that the fundamental frequency of a particular note is fixed, regardless what instrument produces the tone. Whether it's the human voice, a violin, piano, water-filled glass, or even a bent saw, the fundamental frequency determines the name of the note. For example, the note A4 is heard when a vibration with a fundamental frequency of 440 Hertz (Hz) is produced. The note C4, or "middle C," is produced by any instrument that produces vibrations of 261.63 Hz.

What makes a violin sound different from, say, a Flute or a carpenter's saw are the harmonics produced by the instrument. Harmonics are the subtle frequencies produced by the instrument that are multiples above the fundamental frequency. Different instruments create different harmonics that contribute to their unique timbre, which allows you to distinguish the instruments apart.

Second, it is important to understand that not all instruments use the same notation to represent the tones. (This may be at the heart of why you phrased the question as you did.) Some instruments, such as the piano and guitar, are "C" instrument, others are "Bb" instruments, while still others are "Eb" instruments. If three musicians using instruments with the different tunings all look at and play the same note on a staff, the tones created will sound different, because the musicians won't be playing tones of the same frequency. Composers have to adjust their notation to compensate for the different tunings of the instruments they employ.

Check out the link at the lower left to the frequency of notes page.

You should also note that the difference of a concert C on a Trumpet and a concert C is called timber. It still has the same frequency though.

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15y ago

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