SolfetoC♯ (D♭)
C♯ or D♭ is the first black key of the group of two, one of the five notes with two names. With A4 tuned to 440 Hz, C♯4 is 277.18 Hz. A semitone below it is C, a semitone above it D. In Solfeto it is the 8th of the twelve pitches to join a learner's set.
C♯ 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 | C♯, said "C sharp" |
|---|---|
| With a flat | D♭, said "D flat" |
| Fixed do | do diesis |
| German | Cis or Des |
| Pitch class | 1, counting C as 0 |
C♯ in Solfeto
C♯ joins 8th, after C, F♯, A, D♯, E, G♯ and G. Its nearest neighbour already in the set is C, 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 C♯ with C or D 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 C sharp4?
C♯4 is 277.18 Hz, with A4 tuned to 440 Hz. C♯3 is 138.59 Hz and C♯5 is 554.37 Hz.
Is C sharp the same as D flat?
Yes, on a piano and to the ear: one key, one sound. Music in a sharp key writes C♯, music in a flat key writes D♭.
Where is C sharp on a piano?
C♯ is the first black key of the group of two.