Talk:C (musical note)

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there's one pitch in which middle C is 256Hz (philosophical pitch? I can't remember the name). has the nice advantage of all C's being powers of 2! -- Tarquin

It is indeed called philosophical pitch (or sometimes "scientific pitch") and was reasonably popular for a while. It's very handy mathematically speaking if the only notes you're going to use are C's - otherwise the nasty twelfth-roots of equal temperament come along and make all the other pitches things like D=287.350284Hz ;-)
I'm going to write about different pitch standards at pitch (music) one day, it's an interesting subject, I think. I'll spruce this page up a bit as well. --Camembert

Contents

[edit] Middle C is called either C3 or C4

There is much confusion because Middle C is inconsistently labeled both C3 and C4.

[edit] Just intonation Middle C

If we start from the A below middle C, we would be starting from A 220. A pure minor third from the overtone series is a 5/4 ratio. This would give us a Middle C at 264Hz.

Actually, a minor third is 6:5. 5:4 is a major third. Must be a typo, since 264 is still the right answer.—Wahoofive (talk) 22:35, 15 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Middle of the keyboard

Is it really in the middle of the keyboard?? The 52-white-key keyboard has E and F as the 26th and 27th white keys. Georgia guy 15:59, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

It is the C that is closest to the middle of the keyboard. --Alexs letterbox 09:25, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
Okay. Near the middle. SpellcheckW7 (talk) 15:59, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Spurious accuracy

261.625565Hz seems as impressive as it is unlikely...

Assuming one could even resolve a one cent deviation in the note, 261.474Hz and 261.777Hz would be the new frequencies, so quoting more than 4 sig figs seems questionable.

[edit] Picture

The picture with the label pointing to middle C on a keyboard seems fairly useless. It is zoomed in so closely to the keys that there is no absolute reference to where those keys really are. It could be on the bottom of they keyboard for all we know. I'd say replace it but the diagram at the bottom seems sufficient, so the photo should probably be removed. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.28.136.34 (talk) 19:36, 16 January 2007 (UTC).

Okay I have removed it, your idea seems right. Arjun 19:54, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vocal Parts

Middle C is neither near the top of the male vocal range nor is it near the bottom of the female vocal range. The Tenor range goes nearly an octave higher, and the Alto range goes at least a fifth lower. I think it is more accurate and precise to say near the top of the Bass vocal range, and near the bottom of the Soprano vocal range. I'll change it accordingly if no one objects. 129.170.246.173 23:04, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merger of C articles

The articles on Soprano C and Tenor C seem redundent in light of the larger article C (musical note). I think those pages should be merged into this one.Nrswanson (talk) 19:51, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

I think it would be much better to merge the two back into high C: there is about the right amount of material for an article that bears on singing. It would be sad if information that belongs in pitch (music), scale, key color and note were instead scattered among C (musical note), C sharp, D flat... (Keep in mind that there are also articles on C major, D-flat major...) Sparafucil (talk) 21:11, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
Yes I am aware that there are pages on the whole diatonic chart (the scale pages), and I don't think those pages belong under pitch (music). Pages on individual musical notes could possibly be incorporated under pitch (music) but that is a whole different discussion that really should be had on that page. For now, I am content just getting all of the pages related to the musical note C onto one page.Nrswanson (talk) 21:43, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
The do di petto has gotten lost in the merge; are you meaning to eventually move it to high C? Sparafucil (talk) 23:32, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] C4 etc.

Some self-appointed, non-keyboard specialist has taken it upon himself to remove recent references to C4 which do not suit his tastes. He states that those recent, keyboard-specific comments have nothing to do with determining the proper scientific notation for middle C. I do not argue that point. However, I *do* argue that:

A) this Wiki article is not solely for determining 'proper scientific notation'; and
B) owners of certain keyboard instruments WILL be confused if they assume that all instruments assume C4 as middle C.

Keyboard users under B) have a right to consult a central source and confirm that all specs are not the same. Wiki should be one of those sources.

The fact remains that C3 and C4 have been confused in the past due to inconsistencies among keyboard manufacturers; allusion has already been made in the history of this very article. It is my belief that the aforementioned vocal education major, operatic singer and Master of Divinity is not qualified to mask this detail.

- A thirty-two-year keyboard specialist
142.167.119.182 (talk) 19:13, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

I don't appriciate your personal attack on me which is against the very nature of the wikipedia community. I particularly don't appriciate it from an anonymous IP address. I furthermore don't understand your insulting behavior as I have been nothing but courteous. If your insulting behavior continues I will report you to wikipedia administrators and have your IP address blocked. Furthermore, I do think some respect should be given for my education. I do have a Bachelors in Music Education and I do work professionally as a musician. I am also a pianist of 21 years thank you very much and a bassoon, cello, clarinet, and saxophone player. I am also working on a MA in Vocal Performance/Pedagogy right now. I finished my M Div. last year, but I am now pursuing a performance career. That aside, I reverted your edit as the information presented is in direct contrast to everything I have ever read or been taught about scientific pitch notation. Designations like C3, C4, or D10 etc. are based solely on pitch frequencies and therefore do not alter in the manner that you suggested from instrument to instrument. Furthermore, your claims cited no references and sense they are totally unvalidated I felt justified in removing the information. They also smell of original research and frankly I think Grove is a lot more reliable source on pitch notation than you.Nrswanson (talk) 19:45, 10 June 2008 (UTC)