F3 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 | F3 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 164.69 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 171.44 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 174.61 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 175.41 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of F3 lasts 5.727 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 1.96 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
F3 on the piano
F3 is key 33 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
F3 on the guitar
In standard tuning F3 is played in 3 places: 6th (low E) string, fret 13, 5th (A) string, fret 8 and 4th (D) 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 F4.
F3 on the staff
Instruments that can play F3
37 instruments play F3 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.
Bowed strings
Guitars and basses
Plucked and struck strings
Woodwind
Brass
Only at the extreme of their range
Voices: F3 is inside the typical range of the bass, baritone, tenor and alto. Test your own range.
The harmonics of F3
A played F3 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) | 174.61 Hz | F3 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 349.23 Hz | F4 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 523.84 Hz | C5 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 698.46 Hz | F5 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 873.07 Hz | A5 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 1047.7 Hz | C6 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 1222.3 Hz | E♭6 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 1396.9 Hz | F6 | 0¢ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of F3?
F3 is 174.61 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 171.44 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 175.41 Hz.
Which octave is F3 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. F3 is in octave 3, 7 semitones below middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written f.
How do I play F3 on a piano?
F3 is key 33 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play F3?
37 of the instruments we chart play F3 within their normal range, including viola, cello, double bass, guitar, 7-string guitar, and 2 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? F3 is also written F3. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.