A (musical note)

La or A is the sixth note of the fixed-Do solfège. Its enharmonic equivalent B (or Heses) is a diatonic semitone above A♭.

"A" is generally used as a standard for tuning. When the orchestra tunes, the oboe plays an "A" and the rest of the instruments tune to match that pitch. Every string instrument in the orchestra has an A string, from which each player can tune the rest of their instrument.

"A" is also used in combination with a number (e.g. A-440) to label the pitch standard. The number designates the frequency in hertz. A lower number equals a lower pitch.

By an international treaty signed in 1939, modern pitch is standardized at A-440. However, tuning has varied over time, geographical region, or instrument maker. In 17th-century Europe, tunings ranged from about A-374 to A-403, approximately two to three semitones below A-440. Historical examples exist of instruments, tuning forks, or standards ranging from A-309 to A-455.3, a difference of almost six semitones. Although the official standard today is A-440, some orchestral groups and chamber groups prefer to tune a little higher, at A-442 or even A-444. Baroque pitch is usually cited as A-415, which is a semitone lower than modern pitch.

Note

Note, notes, or NOTE may refer to:

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See also

Music Note

Music Note (February 5, 2005, in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by A.P. Indy and out of the Sadler's Wells mare Note Musicale. She is owned by Godolphin Racing and is a Grade 1 winner.

Music Note was a finalist for the Eclipse Award's American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in 2008. In August 2009, she won her fourth Grade I race when she defeated sprint sensation Indian Blessing in the seven-furlong Ballerina Stakes. In October 2009, she won her fifth Grade I race, capturing the Beldame Stakes.

Breeders' Cup

In the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, Music Note ran third in 2008 to winner Zenyatta and finished third in 2009 behind winner Life Is Sweet.

References

A440 (pitch standard)

A440 or A4, which has a frequency of 440 Hz, is the musical note A above middle C and serves as a general tuning standard for musical pitch.

Prior to the standardization on 440 Hz, many countries and organizations followed the Austrian government's 1885 recommendation of 435 Hz, which had also been the French standard since the 1860s. The American music industry reached an informal standard of 440 Hz in 1926, and some began using it in instrument manufacturing. In 1936 the American Standards Association 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 (reaffirmed by them in 1975) as ISO 16. Although not universally accepted, since then it has served as the audio frequency reference for the calibration of acoustic equipment and the tuning of pianos, violins, and other musical instruments.

It is designated A₄ in scientific pitch notation because it occurs in the octave that starts with the fourth C key on a standard 88-key piano keyboard. On MIDI, it is note 69.