Middle C on a Yamaha PSR-270

[pianonewbie]

Hi.
I planned on introducing myself but something strange happened today.
I was entering a song using step mode, when I looked up and saw G3.
I started playing around, and noticed that what I thought was middle C,
was actually called C3. In the past, I assumed it was middle C because it
is where the split point ( for split voices ) is by default. It seemed
kind of natural to me that you would want the keyboard to split so that
the left hand played one voice and the right another. Now I'm not so sure.
The C in the next octave is labeled C4 which I believe is a standard
notation for middle C.

In terms of the actual keyboard layout, it could be either. The keyboard
has five octaves so ( at least to me ) it makes sense to have either two
octaves below Middle C and three octaves above, or three below and two
above.

How do I figure out where middle C is?

[Tom Sacold]

Post by pianonewbie
Hi.
I planned on introducing myself but something strange happened today.
I was entering a song using step mode, when I looked up and saw G3.
I started playing around, and noticed that what I thought was middle C,
was actually called C3. In the past, I assumed it was middle C because it
is where the split point ( for split voices ) is by default. It seemed
kind of natural to me that you would want the keyboard to split so that
the left hand played one voice and the right another. Now I'm not so sure.
The C in the next octave is labeled C4 which I believe is a standard
notation for middle C.
In terms of the actual keyboard layout, it could be either. The keyboard
has five octaves so ( at least to me ) it makes sense to have either two
octaves below Middle C and three octaves above, or three below and two
above.
How do I figure out where middle C is?

Serve you right for not playing a proper piano !!!!

[Tom]

Post by Tom Sacold

Post by pianonewbie
Hi.
I planned on introducing myself but something strange happened today.
I was entering a song using step mode, when I looked up and saw G3.
I started playing around, and noticed that what I thought was middle C,
was actually called C3. In the past, I assumed it was middle C because it
is where the split point ( for split voices ) is by default. It seemed
kind of natural to me that you would want the keyboard to split so that
the left hand played one voice and the right another. Now I'm not so sure.
The C in the next octave is labeled C4 which I believe is a standard
notation for middle C.
In terms of the actual keyboard layout, it could be either. The keyboard
has five octaves so ( at least to me ) it makes sense to have either two
octaves below Middle C and three octaves above, or three below and two
above.
How do I figure out where middle C is?

Serve you right for not playing a proper piano !!!!

That was uncalled for.

Pianonewbie, how many keys does your keyboard have? I would go ahead and say
that middle C is actually the C key closest to the middle of the keyboard,
but I've never owned anything smaller than 76 keys. I'm not sure if smaller
keyboards have different configurations.

Tom

[pianonewbie]

Post by Tom
That was uncalled for.
Pianonewbie, how many keys does your keyboard have? I would go ahead and say
that middle C is actually the C key closest to the middle of the keyboard,
but I've never owned anything smaller than 76 keys. I'm not sure if smaller
keyboards have different configurations.

It has 61 keys. That's the problem, C3 and C4 are both the samr distance (
more or less ) from the middle. I thought that logic would make C3 middle
C, but the labeling suggests C4. But I don't know how standard that
labeling is. :(

[Tom]

Post by pianonewbie

Post by Tom
That was uncalled for.
Pianonewbie, how many keys does your keyboard have? I would go ahead and say
that middle C is actually the C key closest to the middle of the keyboard,
but I've never owned anything smaller than 76 keys. I'm not sure if smaller
keyboards have different configurations.

It has 61 keys. That's the problem, C3 and C4 are both the samr distance (
more or less ) from the middle. I thought that logic would make C3 middle
C, but the labeling suggests C4. But I don't know how standard that
labeling is. :(

Well, there is one really old, classic way to tell. Pick up your phone. The
dial tone is in the key of middle C. Otherwise, you could always borrow
someone's guitar or other instrument tuner. But, the dial tone trick works
fine. I just double-checked it with a new portable phone I bought recently.
Still middle C. Good Luck!!

[Robert Scott]

Post by Tom
Well, there is one really old, classic way to tell. Pick up your phone. The
dial tone is in the key of middle C...

This varies from area to area, depending on your local phone company.
Here in the Detroit area, the dial tone is a major third (F & A).


-Robert Scott
Ypsilanti, Michigan

[Tom]

Post by Robert Scott

Post by Tom
Well, there is one really old, classic way to tell. Pick up your phone. The
dial tone is in the key of middle C...

This varies from area to area, depending on your local phone company.
Here in the Detroit area, the dial tone is a major third (F & A).
-Robert Scott
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Well that sucks. Now I can't always rely on that suggestion. Wonder why they
changed it.

[lariadc]

Post by Robert Scott

Post by Tom
Well, there is one really old, classic way to tell. Pick up your phone. The
dial tone is in the key of middle C...

This varies from area to area, depending on your local phone company.
Here in the Detroit area, the dial tone is a major third (F & A).

Yeah, I'm in the midwest US too, and mine is
somewhere between F and F# below middle C.
I think they're probably even more different
in other countries.

C.

Post by Robert Scott
-Robert Scott
Ypsilanti, Michigan

[pianonewbie]

Post by lariadc
Yeah, I'm in the midwest US too, and mine is
somewhere between F and F# below middle C.
I think they're probably even more different
in other countries.

I think the best thing woluld be if some knew of a mp3 or wav of a middle
C.

[Tom]

Post by pianonewbie

Post by lariadc
Yeah, I'm in the midwest US too, and mine is
somewhere between F and F# below middle C.
I think they're probably even more different
in other countries.

I think the best thing woluld be if some knew of a mp3 or wav of a middle
C.

You should be able to find a C Major music file with a google search if you
have trouble finding just one with just middle C.

[Joe]

On an 88 key piano middle C is C3. The lowest C is C0.

On my 88 key Yamaha middle C is labeled C3. Also in Cubase midi
sequencer program it is the same. I also have a 61 key synth and C3
designated on it is the same frequency as middle C. But there is no C0
on it. So I think that C3 on any keyboard (if labeled such) will be
middle C, but on the smaller keyboards you can't depend on counting the
Cs from low to high. If it has 88keys you start with zero at the lowest
C.

[pianonewbie]

Post by Joe
On an 88 key piano middle C is C3. The lowest C is C0.
On my 88 key Yamaha middle C is labeled C3. Also in Cubase midi
sequencer program it is the same. I also have a 61 key synth and C3
designated on it is the same frequency as middle C. But there is no C0
on it. So I think that C3 on any keyboard (if labeled such) will be
middle C, but on the smaller keyboards you can't depend on counting the
Cs from low to high. If it has 88keys you start with zero at the lowest
C.

Are you sure? The book I have says on keyboards it's labeled C4.
In any case the wav middle C cleared thigns up. It's C3.

[Joe]

"Are you sure? The book I have says on keyboards it's labeled C4.
In any case the wav middle C cleared thigns up. It's C3. "

I don't know what book you have but it's wrong. Middle C is labled C3
on my Yamaha. However it is the 4th C from the bottom. (lowest being C
zero)

[Joe]

"Are you sure? The book I have says on keyboards it's labeled C4.
In any case the wav middle C cleared thigns up. It's C3. "

I don't know what book you have but it's wrong. Middle C is labled C3
on my Yamaha. However it is the 4th C from the bottom. (lowest being C
zero)

[JL]

Could the confusion be from the way some MIDI keyboards designate
Middle C as C3?

When it comes to an 88-note piano, all the standard music references
I�ve seen identify C4 as Middle C. The lowest note on a piano (88
keys) is A0; however there is no C0 which may also lead to some
confusion. Starting at the lowest note, the standard naming
convention for 88 keys is as follows:

A0, A#0/Bb0, B0, C1, C#1/Db1, D1, D#1/Eb1, E1, F1, F#1/Gb1, G1,
G#1/Ab1, A1, A#1/Bb1, B1, C2, C#2/Db2�. and so on up to the highest
note C8.

[JL]

Could the confusion be from the way some MIDI keyboards designate
Middle C as C3?

When it comes to an 88-note piano, all the standard music references
I've seen identify C4 as Middle C. The lowest note on a piano (88
keys) is A0; however there is no C0 which may also lead to some
confusion. Starting at the lowest note, the standard naming
convention for 88 keys is as follows:

A0, A#0/Bb0, B0, C1, C#1/Db1, D1, D#1/Eb1, E1, F1, F#1/Gb1, G1,
G#1/Ab1, A1, A#1/Bb1, B1, C2, C#2/Db2... and so on up to the highest
note C8.

[Steven Lewis]

Post by JL
Could the confusion be from the way some MIDI keyboards designate
Middle C as C3?

Middle C has always been designated as C4 until 1983 when the Yamaha DX7
appeared on the market with middle "C" marked as C3 on the keyboard. Who
knows?.. was it an error? Anyway, some keyboard manufacturers since then
have continued this error.

[bgranat]

I've uploaded a middle C for you:

http://www.GranatEdit.com/C4_2157p.wav

Post by pianonewbie

Post by lariadc
Yeah, I'm in the midwest US too, and mine is
somewhere between F and F# below middle C.
I think they're probably even more different
in other countries.

I think the best thing woluld be if some knew of a mp3 or wav of a middle
C.

[Tom Shaw]

Thank God
TS

Post by bgranat
http://www.GranatEdit.com/C4_2157p.wav

Post by pianonewbie

Post by lariadc
Yeah, I'm in the midwest US too, and mine is
somewhere between F and F# below middle C.
I think they're probably even more different
in other countries.

I think the best thing woluld be if some knew of a mp3 or wav of a middle
C.

[Charly Coughran]

Post by Robert Scott

Post by Tom
Well, there is one really old, classic way to tell. Pick up your
phone. The dial tone is in the key of middle C...

This varies from area to area, depending on your local phone
company. Here in the Detroit area, the dial tone is a major third (F
& A).

Our Ericsson phone system is concert F