Middle C?

SpeedStar

Ok, this is annoying me.

Why does middle C on the guitar (3rd fret A string) sound an Octave lower when I compare it to the middle C on the piano?
Yes, I am playing the correct middle C on piano (24th White Key up from lowest A) 88 keys. Is it the timbre which is confusing me? >☹Arghhhh its keeping me awaking.

Thanks

Gearhead

? Who says third fret A string is middle C ???

Renesongs

Guitar music is scored an octave higher than it sounds so that it fits (rather awkwardly) on one clefs.

Bob-Dubery

There are many instruments for which written music is transposed. As Rene points out, music for guitar is transposed by an octave so as to have the notes fall more easily on the staff and thus reduce the need for ledger lines.

Life is not always so easy. For several wind instruments the written music is transposed by NOT but an octave. Sometimes there's a key in the name. Music for the A clarinet is transposed such that the note written as C is actually an A. Most Saxophones are Eb or Bb, again with the name indicating the note that will actually sound for the note written as C in the score.

vic

As Rene and Bob say....

With a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the middle C note is approximately 261.626 Hz..... While the expression "Middle C" is generally clear across instruments and clefs, some musicians tend to use the term to refer to the C note in the middle of their specific instrument's range.

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(musical_note) and

http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/textm/MiddleC.html

SpeedStar

Thanks for clarity everyone. So basically when working with Guitar Pro, everything is automatically pushed up an octave. So if I wanted to transpose a GP score to piano I'd have to move everything an octave lower.

Thanks Everyone, X-Rated Bob I'm pretty glad I don't play a wind instrument.

Renesongs

Thanks Everyone, X-Rated Bob I'm pretty glad I don't play a wind instrument.

Or Viola that uses a Tenor Clef ☹

Bob-Dubery

SpeedStar wrote: Thanks for clarity everyone. So basically when working with Guitar Pro, everything is automatically pushed up an octave. So if I wanted to transpose a GP score to piano I'd have to move everything an octave lower.

Thanks Everyone, X-Rated Bob I'm pretty glad I don't play a wind instrument.

I think playing a wind instrument in an orchestra is not too bad. You get used to the transposition, and the transposition really is there so that fingering for the written notes is consistent across a family of instruments.

The guy to feel sorry for is the conductor!

PeteM

X-rated Bob wrote: The guy to feel sorry for is the conductor!

And the composer or arranger - has to think and write the parts in all the different transposed keys and clefs.