D6 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 | D6 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 1107.9 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 1153.3 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 1174.7 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 1180.0 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of D6 lasts 851.3 µs, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 29.2 cm. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
D6 on the piano
D6 is key 66 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
D6 on the guitar
D6 is above the 19th fret, the top of a classical guitar; on an electric with more frets it is the 1st string at fret 22.
D6 on the staff
Instruments that can play D6
26 instruments play D6 within the normal range, and 7 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.
Plucked and struck strings
Woodwind
Only at the extreme of their range
D6 is outside the typical range of all six voice types. Test your own range.
The harmonics of D6
A played D6 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) | 1174.7 Hz | D6 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 2349.3 Hz | D7 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 3524.0 Hz | A7 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 4698.6 Hz | D8 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 5873.3 Hz | F♯8 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 7048.0 Hz | A8 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 8222.6 Hz | C9 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 9397.3 Hz | D9 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of D6?
D6 is 1174.7 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 1153.3 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 1180.0 Hz.
Which octave is D6 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. D6 is in octave 6, 26 semitones above middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written d‴.
How do I play D6 on a piano?
D6 is key 66 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play D6?
26 of the instruments we chart play D6 within their normal range, including violin, viola, cello, erhu, mandolin, and 7 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? D6 is also written D6. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.