From: Loyd <loydlin@aol.com>
To: Teacher2Teacher Public Discussion
Date: 2002040521:56:26
Subject: Piano notes

The octave on a piano is misnamed because all the keys are equal as
far as frequency is concerned.  The A above middle C is 440 Hz.  The
next key, (be it black or white) is 440 x 2^(1/12)=466.16 and the next
is the last key times x 2^(1/12 and so forth.

2^(1/12)=1.059463094 so one can use that factor to find successive
notes.  The key before A above middle C would be 440/(2^(1/12)).  

The scientific calculator is great for this since it permits raising a
number to a fractional power. 

By the way, there are 12 spaces in an octave and all are 1/12 octave
apart.  One counts the spaces, not the keys.  

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