How to Use This Calculator
Whether you're checking the frequency of a note, working out a pitch change or exploring harmonics, this calculator makes it easy to see what's happening behind the sound. Here's how to get the most out of it.
Convert
Start by choosing Frequency → Note if you have a frequency in Hz and want to find its musical note. Choose Note → Frequency to do the reverse and find the exact frequency of a note.
You can set the A4 reference to 432 Hz, 440 Hz, 442 Hz or enter your own custom tuning. You can also switch between sharps and flats depending on how you prefer to read your notes. The results show the note, exact frequency, cents and MIDI number.
Pitch Shift
Want to see what happens when you move a sound up or down in pitch? Enter your starting frequency, then adjust it using semitones, cents or the interval shortcuts. You'll see the new frequency and note, along with the pitch ratio, playback speed change and new length.
This is particularly useful when you're repitching samples or comparing different versions of a sound. For tempo-based loop calculations and exact sample counts, have a look at the BPM To Samples Calculator.
Harmonics
Enter a fundamental frequency and choose how many harmonics you want to explore, from 8 up to 32. The calculator shows the frequency, musical note and interval for each one.
You can play individual harmonics or listen to them together using Play all harmonics. It's a good way to hear how different frequencies combine and shape the character of a sound.
Working With Tempo
Pitch is only one part of music production. When you need to find the tempo of a track, try the Tap Tempo Calculator. Once you know your BPM, the Delay Time Calculator helps you work out straight, dotted and triplet delay times that fit your track.
Use the volume slider to adjust playback, and press Stop sound when you're finished. Start at a comfortable, low volume, especially when using headphones.
FAQ
What is the A4 reference frequency?
A4 is the tuning reference used to calculate musical note frequencies. Standard tuning uses 440 Hz, although some musicians prefer 432 Hz or 442 Hz. You can also enter a custom reference to suit your setup.
What's the difference between sharps and flats?
They're two ways of naming the same musical pitch. For example, A♯ and B♭ represent the same note. The sound is identical, but the name changes depending on the musical context.
What are cents in music?
Cents measure small differences in pitch. One semitone contains 100 cents, so even a small adjustment can make a note slightly sharper or flatter without changing it to another note.
What does the MIDI note number mean?
MIDI note numbers give each pitch a numerical value that music software can recognise. In this calculator, A4 is MIDI note 69. This is useful when working with MIDI instruments, piano rolls and DAWs.
What are harmonics?
Harmonics are frequencies that occur at whole-number multiples of a fundamental frequency. They help shape the character of a sound and are an important part of understanding why different instruments and sounds have their own tone.
Does the Pitch Shift tool modify my audio files?
No. It calculates how changing the pitch affects frequency, playback speed and duration. It doesn't upload, edit or process your audio files.
Can I use my own tuning reference?
Yes. Select Custom under A4 reference and enter your preferred frequency. The calculator will use that value for its note and frequency conversions.
Can I calculate BPM, delay times or sample lengths here?
This calculator focuses on musical pitch and frequency. For other production calculations, use the Tap Tempo Calculator to find a track's BPM, the Delay Time Calculator for tempo-synced delay times, or the BPM To Samples Calculator for loop lengths and sample counts.