A1 at every common reference pitch
A note’s frequency depends on what A4 is tuned to. The standard is 440 Hz; the other three are the ones you are most likely to meet. The cents column is how far each one sits from the 440 version — the same for every note, because changing the reference moves the whole scale together.
| Reference | A1 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 51.88 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 54.00 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 55.00 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 55.25 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of A1 lasts 18.182 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 6.24 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
A1 on the piano
A1 is key 13 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
A1 on the guitar
A1 is below the guitar’s lowest note, the open low E (E2), so a guitar in standard tuning cannot play it.
A1 on the staff
Instruments that can play A1
8 instruments play A1 within the normal range, and 3 reach it only at the extreme of theirs. Each links to its range chart; for a transposing instrument, the note on its part is shown.
Bowed strings
Woodwind
Keyboards and free reeds
Only at the extreme of their range
A1 is outside the typical range of all six voice types. Test your own range.
The harmonics of A1
A played A1 is not one frequency. A string or a pipe also sounds whole-number multiples of it, and the mix of those harmonics is the instrument’s tone. Here is where the first eight land — and why the 7th sounds out of tune against a piano.
| Harmonic | Frequency | Nearest note | Off by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (fundamental) | 55.00 Hz | A1 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 110.00 Hz | A2 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 165.00 Hz | E3 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 220.00 Hz | A3 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 275.00 Hz | C♯4 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 330.00 Hz | E4 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 385.00 Hz | G4 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 440.00 Hz | A4 | 0¢ |
Frequencies that land on A1
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of A1?
A1 is 55.00 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 54.00 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 55.25 Hz.
Which octave is A1 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. A1 is in octave 1, 27 semitones below middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written A₁.
How do I play A1 on a piano?
A1 is key 13 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play A1?
8 of the instruments we chart play A1 within their normal range, including double bass, 8-string guitar, bass guitar, bass ukulele, contrabassoon, and 3 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? A1 is also written A1. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.