E1 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 | E1 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 38.86 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 40.45 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 41.20 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 41.39 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of E1 lasts 24.270 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 8.32 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
E1 on the piano
E1 is key 8 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
E1 on the guitar
E1 is below the guitar’s lowest note, the open low E (E2), so a guitar in standard tuning cannot play it.
E1 on the staff
Instruments that can play E1
5 instruments play E1 within the normal range, and 3 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
E1 is outside the typical range of all six voice types. Test your own range.
The harmonics of E1
A played E1 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) | 41.20 Hz | E1 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 82.41 Hz | E2 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 123.61 Hz | B2 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 164.81 Hz | E3 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 206.02 Hz | A♭3 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 247.22 Hz | B3 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 288.42 Hz | D4 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 329.63 Hz | E4 | 0¢ |
Frequencies that land on E1
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of E1?
E1 is 41.20 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 40.45 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 41.39 Hz.
Which octave is E1 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. E1 is in octave 1, 32 semitones below middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written E₁.
How do I play E1 on a piano?
E1 is key 8 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play E1?
5 of the instruments we chart play E1 within their normal range, including double bass, bass guitar, bass ukulele, contrabassoon, piano, and 3 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? E1 is also written E1. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.