E4: frequency and where to play it

E4 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.

One cycle of E4 lasts 3.034 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 1.04 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.

E4 on the piano

E4 is key 44 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.

E4 on the guitar

In standard tuning E4 is played in 5 places: 5th (A) string, fret 19, 4th (D) string, fret 14, 3rd (G) string, fret 9, 2nd (B) string, fret 5 and 1st (high E) string open. 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 E5.

E4 on the staff

Instruments that can play E4

46 instruments play E4 within the normal range, and 2 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.

Only at the extreme of their range

• Double bass
• Tuba

Voices: E4 is inside the typical range of the bass, baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano. Test your own range.

The harmonics of E4

A played E4 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.

Frequencies that land on E4

• 329.63 Hz — the high E string of a guitar

Frequently asked questions

Typing it? E4 is also written E4. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.