Why is 440 Hz considered 'Middle C'?

Question

If humans hear (on average) between 20 - 22,000 Hz; why would the note not be considered higher on the scale? Is it because of comfort level to the ears?

Answer 1

440 Hz is not middle C it's actually A. C is 261.6 hertz.

"In Western music, the expression "middle C" refers to the note "C" or "Do" located between the staves of the grand staff, quoted as C4 in note-octave notation (also known as scientific pitch notation). It also tends to be to the middle of a keyboard, and it is near the top of the male vocal range and the bottom of the female vocal range.

Although C4 is commonly known by the expression "middle C", the expression is keyboard-specific and players of some instruments may refer to the note by another expression. For example, that note (C4) would be "low C" to the player of a Western concert flute (as it is in the lowest register of that instrument — see Vocal and instrumental pitch ranges), while C5 would be middle C. Nevertheless, the expression "middle C" is generally clear across instruments and clefs.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the middle C note is approximately 261.6 hertz. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency."

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Answer 2

It isn't. The A above middle C is 440 Hz.

"A440 is the 440 Hz tone that serves as the standard for musical pitch. A440 is the musical note A above middle C (A4).

In 1939, an international conference recommended that the A above middle C be tuned to 440 Hz. This standard was taken up by the International Organization for Standardization in 1955 (and was reaffirmed by them in 1975) as ISO 16. Since then it has served as the audio frequency reference for the calibration of pianos, violins, and other musical instruments."

Answer 3

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RE:
Why is 440 Hz considered 'Middle C'?
If humans hear (on average) between 20 - 22,000 Hz; why would the note not be considered higher on the scale? Is it because of comfort level to the ears?

Answer 4

Lots of good musicians can play by ear. It's not an exceptionally difficult skill, at least beyond the mastery of the instrument that they've acquired to make it possible. It basically requires two things: 1) You need to know your music theory. You don't have to know all the terminology but you need to understand the concepts even if you don't now what they're called. 2) You need to have played similar things before. You know the key, the rhythm, etc... you've played similar things in the past. You're basically taking something you've never heard before and building upon it with a mixture of regurgitated ideas and new inspiration. Playing music by ear isn't that hard. Even mediocre musicians can typically play easy stuff by ear. As you get better you become able to play more complicated stuff by ear. EDIT: It would be pretty abnormal for somebody to master an instrument with no practice. But I don't think you can rightfully say that any musician who has put the effort into mastering his instrument can claim anything like playing by ear as anything other than a learned ability. It's something you pick up as you go.

Answer 5

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Well... as another poster said, this is a trick question because the clarinet is a transposing instrument... SO, here's a few different answers for you... (These are all assuming A4 = 440 Hz) Middle C on PIANO (the 4th C) is 261.63Hz. To play the same note- SAME OCTAVE- on clarinet, you have to play the clarinet's "D", but this isn't the clarinet's middle "D"... it's the low "D"... 293.66Hz. (If you play the clarinets C with the piano C, then the clarinet SOUNDS as a Bb.) Now... there isn't really a "middle C" when talking clarinet range... there are 4 different "C's" on a clarinet: Chalumeau (low) "C"- 1 ledger line below treble clef: 261.63Hz Clarion "C"- 3rd space of the treble clef: 523.25Hz (this would most likely be considered the middle "C" on clarinet, as only pros play the super high "C", but it is 11 half steps higher than piano's middle "C"). Altissimo "C"- 2 ledger lines above the treble clef: 1046.50Hz Altississimo "C"- the space 6 ledger lines above the treble clef: 2093.00Hz. These are all as WRITTEN for clarinet... if you want CONCERT pitch (so that the piano and clarinet are SOUNDING the same note) you have to take the clarinet up a whole step to a "D". I hope that's not too confusing! :)

Answer 6

It's because the note goes up the octave with every doubling of frequency. So from 20 - 40 Hz is an octave, as is 10kHz to 20 kHz.