Key Concepts: Pitch & Frequency

Pitch

• Pitch is the perceived frequency of a sound — higher frequency = higher pitch.
• Musical notes correspond to specific frequencies. Middle C ≈ 262 Hz. A4 = 440 Hz.

Frequency and Musical Scales

• An octave = doubling of frequency. A4 = 440 Hz → A5 = 880 Hz.
• The human ear perceives frequency logarithmically — equal ratios sound like equal intervals.

Timbre (Tone Quality)

• Two instruments playing the same note sound different because of their harmonic content (overtones).
• A pure tone is a single frequency (sine wave). Real sounds are combinations of harmonics.
• The fundamental frequency determines pitch; higher harmonics determine timbre.