Middle C

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In Western music, the expression "middle C" refers to the note "C" or "Do" located exactly between the two staves of the grand staff, quoted as C4 in note-octave notation (also known as scientific pitch notation). It also tends to be to the middle of a keyboard, and it is near the top of the male vocal range and the bottom of the female vocal range.

Although C4 is commonly known by the expression "middle C", the expression is keyboard-specific and players of some instruments may refer to the note by another expression. For example, that note (C4) would be "low C" to the player of a Western concert flute (as it is in the lowest register of that instrument — see Vocal and instrumental pitch ranges), while C5 would be middle C. Nevertheless, the expression "middle C" is generally clear across instruments and clefs.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the middle C note is approximately 261.6 hertz. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

For the frequency of each note on a standard piano, see Piano key frequencies.

Image:Middle C in four clefs.png