C3 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 | C3 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 123.38 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 128.43 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 130.81 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 131.41 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of C3 lasts 7.645 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 2.62 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
C3 on the piano
C3 is key 28 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
C3 on the guitar
In standard tuning C3 is played in 2 places: 6th (low E) string, fret 8 and 5th (A) string, fret 3. The same pitch in each place, with a different tone: lower strings sound warmer. Guitar music is written an octave higher than it sounds, so on a guitar part this note is printed as C4.
C3 on the staff
Instruments that can play C3
26 instruments play C3 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.
Bowed strings
Guitars and basses
Woodwind
Keyboards and free reeds
Only at the extreme of their range
Voices: C3 is inside the typical range of the bass, baritone and tenor. Test your own range.
The harmonics of C3
A played C3 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) | 130.81 Hz | C3 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 261.63 Hz | C4 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 392.44 Hz | G4 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 523.25 Hz | C5 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 654.06 Hz | E5 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 784.88 Hz | G5 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 915.69 Hz | B♭5 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 1046.5 Hz | C6 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of C3?
C3 is 130.81 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 128.43 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 131.41 Hz.
Which octave is C3 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. C3 is in octave 3, 12 semitones below middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written c.
How do I play C3 on a piano?
C3 is key 28 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play C3?
26 of the instruments we chart play C3 within their normal range, including viola, cello, double bass, guitar, 7-string guitar, and 1 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? C3 is also written C3. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.