F2 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 | F2 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 82.35 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 85.72 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 87.31 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 87.70 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of F2 lasts 11.454 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 3.93 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
F2 on the piano
F2 is key 21 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
F2 on the guitar
In standard tuning F2 is played in 1 place: 6th (low E) string, fret 1. 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 F3.
F2 on the staff
Instruments that can play F2
23 instruments play F2 within the normal range. Each links to its range chart; for a transposing instrument, the note on its part is shown.
Bowed strings
Guitars and basses
Keyboards and free reeds
Voices: F2 is inside the typical range of the bass. Test your own range.
The harmonics of F2
A played F2 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) | 87.31 Hz | F2 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 174.61 Hz | F3 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 261.92 Hz | C4 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 349.23 Hz | F4 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 436.54 Hz | A4 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 523.84 Hz | C5 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 611.15 Hz | E♭5 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 698.46 Hz | F5 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of F2?
F2 is 87.31 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 85.72 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 87.70 Hz.
Which octave is F2 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. F2 is in octave 2, 19 semitones below middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written F.
How do I play F2 on a piano?
F2 is key 21 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play F2?
23 of the instruments we chart play F2 within their normal range, including cello, double bass, guitar, 7-string guitar, 8-string guitar.
Typing it? F2 is also written F2. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.