G3 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 | G3 | vs 440 |
|---|---|---|
| A4 = 415 Hz · Baroque pitch | 184.86 Hz | −101.3¢ |
| A4 = 432 Hz · “Verdi” pitch | 192.43 Hz | −31.8¢ |
| A4 = 440 Hz · Standard (ISO 16) | 196.00 Hz | — |
| A4 = 442 Hz · Orchestral | 196.89 Hz | +7.9¢ |
One cycle of G3 lasts 5.102 ms, and its wavelength in air at 20 °C is 1.75 m. Hold it as a steady tone in the tone generator.
G3 on the piano
G3 is key 35 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key. Press any key below to compare it with its neighbours.
G3 on the guitar
In standard tuning G3 is played in 4 places: 6th (low E) string, fret 15, 5th (A) string, fret 10, 4th (D) string, fret 5 and 3rd (G) 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 G4.
G3 on the staff
Instruments that can play G3
42 instruments play G3 within the normal range, and 1 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: G3 is inside the typical range of the bass, baritone, tenor and alto. Test your own range.
The harmonics of G3
A played G3 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) | 196.00 Hz | G3 | 0¢ |
| 2 | 392.00 Hz | G4 | 0¢ |
| 3 | 587.99 Hz | D5 | +2.0¢ |
| 4 | 783.99 Hz | G5 | 0¢ |
| 5 | 979.99 Hz | B5 | −13.7¢ |
| 6 | 1176.0 Hz | D6 | +2.0¢ |
| 7 | 1372.0 Hz | F6 | −31.2¢ |
| 8 | 1568.0 Hz | G6 | 0¢ |
Frequencies that land on G3
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of G3?
G3 is 196.00 Hz in equal temperament with A4 tuned to 440 Hz, the international standard. At A4 = 432 Hz it is 192.43 Hz, and at the orchestral A4 = 442 Hz it is 196.89 Hz.
Which octave is G3 in?
The number is the octave in scientific pitch notation, where each octave starts on C and C4 is middle C. G3 is in octave 3, 5 semitones below middle C. In Helmholtz notation, used in older books, it is written g.
How do I play G3 on a piano?
G3 is key 35 of 88, counting from the bottom — a white key.
Which instruments can play G3?
42 of the instruments we chart play G3 within their normal range, including violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, and 1 more reach it only at the extreme of their range.
Typing it? G3 is also written G3. Convert any frequency on the Hz-to-note converter.