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Dear Middle Audio,
I have a guitar in standard tuning. Is the low A (open A string) 440Hz? Is middle C 261.626Hz?

I believe the low A on a guitar in standard tuning is acutally an A3. This would make it A220.

macrae11 wrote:I believe the low A on a guitar in standard tuning is acutally an A3. This would make it A220.

Not according to this chart.

Guitar strings are: E2=82.41Hz, A2=110Hz, D3=146.8Hz, G3=196Hz, B3=246.9Hz, E4=329.6Hz
Bass strings are: (5th string) B0=30.87Hz, (4th string) E1=41.20Hz, A1=55Hz, D2=73.42Hz, G2=98Hz
Mandolin & violin strings are: G3=196Hz, D4=293.7Hz, A4=440Hz, E5=659.3Hz
Viola & tenor banjo strings are: C3=130.8Hz, G3=196Hz, D4=293.7Hz, A4=440Hz
Cello strings are: C2=65.41Hz, G2=98Hz, D3=146.8Hz, A3=220Hz

Jef's right.. the highest E string on a standard tuning guitar is E4, just above middle C, this puts the lowest E string two octaves below at E2. I'm also not saying this from a chart... I'm saying it from being a piano player that's been helping guitar players tune their instruments for over 10 years...

Drumwaiter wrote:Jef's right.. the highest E string on a standard tuning guitar is E4, just above middle C, this puts the lowest E string two octaves below at E2. I'm also not saying this from a chart... I'm saying it from being a piano player that's been helping guitar players tune their instruments for over 10 years...

I knew this as well... but I thought I should at least back it up with an 'official' looking chart

I stand corrected. For some reason I thought the guitar was tuned up two octaves from the bass, not just one.

So, does this mean that the guitar plays notes an octave lower than what is notated?
It is my understanding that the C on the first ledger line below the treble staff
(first ledger line above the bass staff) is middle C. It is also my understanding
that this note is usually played on the 3rd fret of the A string, on guitar, which
is an octave below middle C. Am I misunderstanding?

"Middle C" on a guitar is B string, 1st fret. So you are correct. The 3rd fret of the A string is an octave down.

Scott DeVarenne wrote:So, does this mean that the guitar plays notes an octave lower than what is notated?
It is my understanding that the C on the first ledger line below the treble staff
(first ledger line above the bass staff) is middle C. It is also my understanding
that this note is usually played on the 3rd fret of the A string, on guitar, which
is an octave below middle C. Am I misunderstanding?

yes! you're right! on the guitar what is notated middle C is actually an octave lower and you play it 3rd fret on the A string or 8th fret on the low E

here are a few geetaristic references i keep in mind!

Low E on the Bass is about 41 hz so Low E on guitar is 82 hz

A440 is 5th fret high E string and this is the top of my (an many guys) full voice register.

1Khz is near high B on guitar ......19th fret high E and High A at the 17th fret would be 880 hz ....these are nice for double checking mid range monitor squeel on gigs....and as you all know, you can almost sense or hear 1k feedback in the tone before it actually goes off.