Compare two musical pitches

Intervals use 12-tone equal temperament for pitch/frequency context. Enharmonic spellings such as C♯ and D♭ share a pitch class here; notation-specific interval spelling can differ.

First note

Octave

Second note

Octave

—Interval

—Semitones

—Direction

—Frequency ratio

ReadyChoose two notes to compare their pitch distance.

Practice and playback notes

connects timing, tuning, pitch reference, virtual instruments and music-theory tools without requiring an account. Existing interactive engines remain intact while the new workflow makes it easier to move from a practical task—keep time, tune, play, identify, transpose—to the next relevant tool.

Audio and theory boundaries

Microphone pitch detection depends on the device, room and signal quality. Equal-tempered frequency math does not measure a real instrument, and chord/scale naming can have multiple enharmonic or theoretical interpretations. Reference tones and noise should be used at comfortable playback levels; browser controls do not measure sound-pressure exposure.

Use this result with confidence

Distinguish semitone distance from spelled interval name

C♯ to F and D♭ to F can share a pitch-class distance while carrying different theoretical spelling. Equal-tempered semitones describe sound distance; diatonic spelling describes musical function. Preserve note names when theory matters instead of reducing every comparison to an anonymous semitone count.

Octave placement changes compound intervals

The same pitch classes can form a simple interval or a compound interval depending on octave numbers. Verify both note octaves before interpreting the result. For arranging or vocal range work, keep the signed direction and actual frequencies so an octave error is easy to spot.

Reference tuning affects frequencies, not semitone labels

Changing A4 from 440 Hz to another reference shifts calculated frequencies while the equal-tempered interval in semitones remains the same. Record the tuning reference when comparing measurements from instruments or recordings. Do not mix frequency values produced under different A4 references without converting them first.

Playback is a listening aid, not a tuning instrument

Browser audio helps demonstrate melodic or harmonic interval relationships, but speaker response, device latency, and oscillator implementation are not calibrated measurement equipment. Use playback for practice and confirmation, then use dedicated tuning or analysis tools when cents-level accuracy from real audio is required.

Music Interval Finder