SolfetoG♯ (A♭)
G♯ or A♭ is the middle black key of the group of three, one of the five notes with two names. With A4 tuned to 440 Hz, G♯4 is 415.30 Hz. A semitone below it is G, a semitone above it A. In Solfeto it is the 6th of the twelve pitches to join a learner's set.
G♯ 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 | G♯, said "G sharp" |
|---|---|
| With a flat | A♭, said "A flat" |
| Fixed do | sol diesis |
| German | Gis or As |
| Pitch class | 8, counting C as 0 |
G♯ in Solfeto
G♯ joins 6th, after C, F♯, A, D♯ and E. 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 G♯ with G or A 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 G sharp4?
G♯4 is 415.30 Hz, with A4 tuned to 440 Hz. G♯3 is 207.65 Hz and G♯5 is 830.61 Hz.
Is G sharp the same as A flat?
Yes, on a piano and to the ear: one key, one sound. Music in a sharp key writes G♯, music in a flat key writes A♭.
Where is G sharp on a piano?
G♯ is the middle black key of the group of three.