B7 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 | B7 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 3726.6 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 3879.2 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 3951.1 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 3969.0 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of B7 lasts 253.1 µs, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 8.7 cm. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
B7 on the piano
B7 is key 87 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
B7 on the guitar
B7 is above the highest fret of any standard guitar, so a guitar in standard tuning cannot play it.
B7 on the staff
Instruments that can play B7
4 instruments play B7 within the normal range, and 1 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.
Woodwind
Tuned percussion
Keyboards and free reeds
Only at the extreme of their range
B7 is outside the typical range of all six voice types. Test your own range.
The harmonics of B7
A played B7 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) | 3951.1 Hz | B7 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 7902.1 Hz | B8 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 11,853 Hz | F♯9 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 15,804 Hz | B9 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 19,755 Hz | E♭10 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 23,706 Hz | F♯10 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 27,657 Hz | A10 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 31,609 Hz | B10 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of B7?
B7 is 3951.1 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 3879.2 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 3969.0 Hz.
Which octave is B7 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. B7 is in octave 7, 47 semitones above middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written b′×4.
How do I play B7 on a piano?
B7 is key 87 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play B7?
4 of the instruments we chart play B7 within their normal range, including piccolo, xylophone, glockenspiel, piano, and 1 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? B7 is also written B7. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.