SolfetoA♯ (B♭)
A♯ or B♭ is the last black key of the group of three, one of the five notes with two names. With A4 tuned to 440 Hz, A♯4 is 466.16 Hz. A semitone below it is A, a semitone above it B. In Solfeto it is the 12th of the twelve pitches to join a learner's set.
A♯ in every octave
Press one to hear it.
- Solfeto plays this octave.
- Solfeto plays this octave.
- Solfeto plays this octave.
- Solfeto plays this octave.
Its names
| With a sharp | A♯, said "A sharp" |
|---|---|
| With a flat | B♭, said "B flat" |
| Fixed do | la diesis |
| German | Ais or B |
| Pitch class | 10, counting C as 0 |
A♯ in Solfeto
A♯ joins 12th, after C, F♯, A, D♯, E, G♯, G, C♯, B, F and D. Its nearest neighbour already in the set is A, 1 semitone away. From here on every new pitch sits a semitone from one already learned, which is the hardest kind of pair to tell apart.
It joins when the set before it is held: right 90 percent of the time, quickly, with no pitch left behind. The method is in how to train absolute pitch.
The notes beside it
Mixing up A♯ with A or B is the most common mistake in naming it. One semitone is the smallest step between two notes, and the one training spends longest on.
Questions
What is the frequency of A sharp4?
A♯4 is 466.16 Hz, with A4 tuned to 440 Hz. A♯3 is 233.08 Hz and A♯5 is 932.33 Hz.
Is A sharp the same as B flat?
Yes, on a piano and to the ear: one key, one sound. Music in a sharp key writes A♯, music in a flat key writes B♭.
Where is A sharp on a piano?
A♯ is the last black key of the group of three.