What MIDI number is a kick drum?

In the General MIDI (GM) drum map, the standard kick drum is MIDI note 36 (C2 in Ableton). MIDI note 35 is an alternate bass drum. Most drum machines and sample packs follow this convention, though not all.

How do I convert MIDI notes to Hz?

The formula is: Hz = 440 x 2^((MIDI - 69) / 12). So for MIDI 60 (middle C): Hz = 440 x 2^((60-69)/12) = 440 x 2^(-9/12) = 261.63 Hz. You can also use the note frequency calculator at notes.beatkey.app.

Note Frequency Calculator / MIDI Note Chart

MIDI Note Chart

Q: What MIDI number is middle C?

Middle C is MIDI note 60. However, different DAWs label it differently: Ableton calls it C4, FL Studio calls it C5, and Logic Pro calls it C3. The MIDI number 60 and frequency 261.63 Hz are always the same regardless of DAW.

Q: What MIDI note is A 440?

Concert A (440 Hz) is MIDI note 69. Ableton labels it A4, FL Studio labels it A5, and Logic Pro labels it A3. The frequency 440 Hz is the international standard tuning reference.

Complete reference: every MIDI note number (0-127) with its note name and exact frequency in Hz. Includes DAW octave conventions, GM drum map, and producer reference notes.

128

Total MIDI notes (0-127)

Middle C (MIDI 60)

440 Hz

Concert A (MIDI 69)

8.18-12,544 Hz

Full MIDI frequency range

DAW Octave Conventions (Critical)

The MIDI standard defines note numbers 0-127, but DAWs disagree on how to label octaves. Middle C is always MIDI 60 and always 261.63 Hz, but your DAW might call it C3, C4, or C5. This causes endless confusion when collaborating or following tutorials from different DAWs.

DAW	Middle C label	Octave offset	Notes
Ableton Live	C4 = MIDI 60	Standard (octave -1 to 9)	Matches MIDI standard. C4 = 261.63 Hz.
FL Studio	C5 = MIDI 60	Shifted +1 octave	FL numbers octaves 1 higher. C5 in FL = C4 in Ableton.
Logic Pro	C3 = MIDI 60	Shifted -1 octave	Logic numbers octaves 1 lower. C3 in Logic = C4 in Ableton.
Pro Tools	C3 = MIDI 60	Shifted -1 octave	Same as Logic. C3 in Pro Tools = C4 in Ableton.
Reason	C3 = MIDI 60	Shifted -1 octave	Same as Logic/Pro Tools convention.
Cubase / Nuendo	C3 = MIDI 60	Shifted -1 octave	Steinberg convention, same as Logic.

The MIDI note NUMBER (0-127) is always universal. Only the octave label shown in the DAW UI differs.

Producer Reference Notes

Middle C C4

MIDI 60 261.63 Hz

Reference pitch, piano middle register, melody baseline

Concert A A4

MIDI 69 440.00 Hz

Universal tuning reference, orchestras tune to this

808 Root (C) C2

MIDI 36 65.41 Hz

Default 808 sample root note in most packs

Sub Bass Low C1

MIDI 24 32.70 Hz

Deep sub bass, felt more than heard, 808 bottom end

Kick Fundamental F1

MIDI 29 43.65 Hz

Common kick drum fundamental, house and techno

Snare Crack E5

MIDI 76 659.26 Hz

Snare body peak, attack transient region

Hi-Hat Open A#5

MIDI 82 932.33 Hz

Typical open hi-hat fundamental (GM MIDI standard)

MIDI Note 0 C-1

MIDI 0 8.18 Hz

Lowest MIDI note, below human hearing threshold

MIDI Note 127 G9

MIDI 127 12,543.85 Hz

Highest MIDI note, well above most musical content

GM Drum Map (Channel 10)

General MIDI defines a standard drum mapping on MIDI channel 10. Most drum machines, sample packs, and drum VSTs follow this convention. Note: octave labels shown in Ableton notation (MIDI standard). FL Studio users: subtract 1 from the octave number. Logic/Pro Tools users: subtract 1 also.

MIDI #	Note (Ableton)	Drum Sound
35	B1	Acoustic Bass Drum
36	C2	Bass Drum 1 (most common)
37	C#2	Side Stick
38	D2	Acoustic Snare
39	D#2	Hand Clap
40	E2	Electric Snare
41	F2	Low Floor Tom
42	F#2	Closed Hi-Hat
43	G2	High Floor Tom
44	G#2	Pedal Hi-Hat
45	A2	Low Tom
46	A#2	Open Hi-Hat
47	B2	Low-Mid Tom
48	C3	Hi-Mid Tom
49	C#3	Crash Cymbal 1
50	D3	High Tom
51	D#3	Ride Cymbal 1
57	A3	Crash Cymbal 2
59	B3	Ride Cymbal 2

Full MIDI Note Chart (0-127)

C notes highlighted in green. Octave labels use Ableton notation (MIDI standard). See DAW convention table above for FL Studio / Logic conversions.

MIDI #	Note	Enharmonic	Frequency	Octave
0	C-1	-	8.176	-1
1	C#-1	Db-1	8.662	-1
2	D-1	-	9.177	-1
3	D#-1	Eb-1	9.723	-1
4	E-1	-	10.30	-1
5	F-1	-	10.91	-1
6	F#-1	Gb-1	11.56	-1
7	G-1	-	12.25	-1
8	G#-1	Ab-1	12.98	-1
9	A-1	-	13.75	-1
10	A#-1	Bb-1	14.57	-1
11	B-1	-	15.43	-1
12	C0	-	16.35	0
13	C#0	Db0	17.32	0
14	D0	-	18.35	0
15	D#0	Eb0	19.45	0
16	E0	-	20.60	0
17	F0	-	21.83	0
18	F#0	Gb0	23.12	0
19	G0	-	24.50	0
20	G#0	Ab0	25.96	0
21	A0	-	27.50	0
22	A#0	Bb0	29.14	0
23	B0	-	30.87	0
24	C1	-	32.70	1
25	C#1	Db1	34.65	1
26	D1	-	36.71	1
27	D#1	Eb1	38.89	1
28	E1	-	41.20	1
29	F1	-	43.65	1
30	F#1	Gb1	46.25	1
31	G1	-	49.00	1
32	G#1	Ab1	51.91	1
33	A1	-	55.00	1
34	A#1	Bb1	58.27	1
35	B1	-	61.74	1
36	C2	-	65.41	2
37	C#2	Db2	69.30	2
38	D2	-	73.42	2
39	D#2	Eb2	77.78	2
40	E2	-	82.41	2
41	F2	-	87.31	2
42	F#2	Gb2	92.50	2
43	G2	-	98.00	2
44	G#2	Ab2	103.83	2
45	A2	-	110.00	2
46	A#2	Bb2	116.54	2
47	B2	-	123.47	2
48	C3	-	130.81	3
49	C#3	Db3	138.59	3
50	D3	-	146.83	3
51	D#3	Eb3	155.56	3
52	E3	-	164.81	3
53	F3	-	174.61	3
54	F#3	Gb3	185.00	3
55	G3	-	196.00	3
56	G#3	Ab3	207.65	3
57	A3	-	220.00	3
58	A#3	Bb3	233.08	3
59	B3	-	246.94	3
60	C4	-	261.63	4
61	C#4	Db4	277.18	4
62	D4	-	293.66	4
63	D#4	Eb4	311.13	4
64	E4	-	329.63	4
65	F4	-	349.23	4
66	F#4	Gb4	369.99	4
67	G4	-	392.00	4
68	G#4	Ab4	415.30	4
69	A4	-	440.00	4
70	A#4	Bb4	466.16	4
71	B4	-	493.88	4
72	C5	-	523.25	5
73	C#5	Db5	554.37	5
74	D5	-	587.33	5
75	D#5	Eb5	622.25	5
76	E5	-	659.26	5
77	F5	-	698.46	5
78	F#5	Gb5	739.99	5
79	G5	-	783.99	5
80	G#5	Ab5	830.61	5
81	A5	-	880.00	5
82	A#5	Bb5	932.33	5
83	B5	-	987.77	5
84	C6	-	1.047 kHz	6
85	C#6	Db6	1.109 kHz	6
86	D6	-	1.175 kHz	6
87	D#6	Eb6	1.245 kHz	6
88	E6	-	1.319 kHz	6
89	F6	-	1.397 kHz	6
90	F#6	Gb6	1.480 kHz	6
91	G6	-	1.568 kHz	6
92	G#6	Ab6	1.661 kHz	6
93	A6	-	1.760 kHz	6
94	A#6	Bb6	1.865 kHz	6
95	B6	-	1.976 kHz	6
96	C7	-	2.093 kHz	7
97	C#7	Db7	2.217 kHz	7
98	D7	-	2.349 kHz	7
99	D#7	Eb7	2.489 kHz	7
100	E7	-	2.637 kHz	7
101	F7	-	2.794 kHz	7
102	F#7	Gb7	2.960 kHz	7
103	G7	-	3.136 kHz	7
104	G#7	Ab7	3.322 kHz	7
105	A7	-	3.520 kHz	7
106	A#7	Bb7	3.729 kHz	7
107	B7	-	3.951 kHz	7
108	C8	-	4.186 kHz	8
109	C#8	Db8	4.435 kHz	8
110	D8	-	4.699 kHz	8
111	D#8	Eb8	4.978 kHz	8
112	E8	-	5.274 kHz	8
113	F8	-	5.588 kHz	8
114	F#8	Gb8	5.920 kHz	8
115	G8	-	6.272 kHz	8
116	G#8	Ab8	6.645 kHz	8
117	A8	-	7.040 kHz	8
118	A#8	Bb8	7.459 kHz	8
119	B8	-	7.902 kHz	8
120	C9	-	8.372 kHz	9
121	C#9	Db9	8.870 kHz	9
122	D9	-	9.397 kHz	9
123	D#9	Eb9	9.956 kHz	9
124	E9	-	10.548 kHz	9
125	F9	-	11.175 kHz	9
126	F#9	Gb9	11.840 kHz	9
127	G9	-	12.544 kHz	9

MIDI to Hz Formula

Hz = 440 x 2^((MIDI - 69) / 12)

This is the equal temperament formula. A4 (MIDI 69) is the reference at 440 Hz. Every 12 MIDI steps = 1 octave = doubling the frequency. Every 1 MIDI step = 1 semitone = a frequency ratio of 2^(1/12) = approximately 1.0595.

Example: MIDI 60 (middle C)

440 x 2^((60-69)/12)

= 440 x 2^(-9/12)

= 261.63 Hz

Example: MIDI 36 (808 root C2)

440 x 2^((36-69)/12)

= 440 x 2^(-33/12)

= 65.41 Hz

Example: MIDI 81 (A5 in Ableton)

440 x 2^((81-69)/12)

= 440 x 2^(12/12)

= 880.00 Hz

Frequently Asked Questions

What MIDI number is middle C?

Middle C is MIDI note 60. Its frequency is 261.63 Hz. Ableton Live calls it C4, FL Studio calls it C5, and Logic Pro / Pro Tools / Cubase call it C3. The MIDI number 60 is always the same regardless of which DAW you use.

What MIDI note is A 440 Hz?

Concert A (440 Hz) is MIDI note 69. Ableton calls it A4, FL Studio calls it A5, Logic calls it A3. This is the international standard tuning reference and the anchor point for the equal temperament frequency formula.

What MIDI note is a kick drum?

In the General MIDI (GM) drum map, the standard kick drum (Bass Drum 1) is MIDI note 36 (C2 in Ableton). MIDI 35 is an alternate bass drum. Most drum machines, Drum Racks in Ableton, and sample packs follow this convention, though custom kits may differ.

How many MIDI notes are there?

There are 128 MIDI notes, numbered 0 through 127. This covers roughly 10.5 octaves, from C-1 (8.18 Hz, below human hearing range) to G9 (12,543.85 Hz). A standard 88-key piano covers MIDI notes 21 (A0) to 108 (C8).

Look Up Any Note or Frequency

Enter any note name (A4, C#3, Bb5) or frequency (440, 261.63, 130.81) to get instant results with MIDI number, enharmonic, cents deviation, and nearest semitone.

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