C♯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 | C♯8 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 4182.9 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 4354.3 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 4434.9 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 4455.1 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of C♯8 lasts 225.5 µs, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 7.7 cm. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
C♯8 on the piano
C♯8 is above the top of an 88-key piano, whose highest key is C8 — 1 semitone higher. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
C♯8 on the guitar
C♯8 is above the highest fret of any standard guitar, so a guitar in standard tuning cannot play it.
C♯8 on the staff
Instruments that can play C♯8
None of the instruments in our range charts reach C♯8.
C♯8 is outside the typical range of all six voice types. Test your own range.
The harmonics of C♯8
A played C♯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) | 4434.9 Hz | C♯8 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 8869.8 Hz | C♯9 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 13,305 Hz | A♭9 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 17,740 Hz | C♯10 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 22,175 Hz | F10 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 26,610 Hz | A♭10 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 31,044 Hz | B10 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 35,479 Hz | C♯11 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of C♯8?
C♯8 is 4434.9 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 4354.3 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 4455.1 Hz.
Is C♯8 the same note as D♭8?
On a piano, a guitar or a tuner, yes: C♯8 and D♭8 are the same key and the same frequency, 4434.9 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 C♯8 on a piano?
C♯8 is above the top of an 88-key piano, whose highest key is C8 — 1 semitone higher.
Which instruments can play C♯8?
None of the instruments we chart reach C♯8; it is outside the range of ordinary instruments.
Typing it? C♯8 is also written C#8 or Db8. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.