B♭8 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 | B♭8 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 7034.8 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 7323.0 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 7458.6 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 7492.5 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of B♭8 lasts 134.1 µs, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 4.6 cm. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
B♭8 on the piano
B♭8 is above the top of an 88-key piano, whose highest key is C8 — 10 semitones higher. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
B♭8 on the guitar
B♭8 is above the highest fret of any standard guitar, so a guitar in standard tuning cannot play it.
B♭8 on the staff
Instruments that can play B♭8
None of the instruments in our range charts reach B♭8.
B♭8 is outside the typical range of all six voice types. Test your own range.
The harmonics of B♭8
A played B♭8 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) | 7458.6 Hz | B♭8 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 14,917 Hz | B♭9 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 22,376 Hz | F10 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 29,834 Hz | B♭10 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 37,293 Hz | D11 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 44,752 Hz | F11 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 52,210 Hz | A♭11 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 59,669 Hz | B♭11 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of B♭8?
B♭8 is 7458.6 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 7323.0 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 7492.5 Hz.
Is B♭8 the same note as A♯8?
On a piano, a guitar or a tuner, yes: B♭8 and A♯8 are the same key and the same frequency, 7458.6 Hz, in equal temperament. They are two names for one pitch (enharmonic equivalents). Which one is written depends on the key — sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys — and a string or wind player may pitch them a few cents apart when playing in just intonation.
How do I play B♭8 on a piano?
B♭8 is above the top of an 88-key piano, whose highest key is C8 — 10 semitones higher.
Which instruments can play B♭8?
None of the instruments we chart reach B♭8; it is outside the range of ordinary instruments.
Typing it? B♭8 is also written Bb8 or A#8. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.