Pitch Shift Calculator
Enter a source frequency and transpose it by semitones or cents. Get the new frequency, pitch ratio, musical note, and matching playback-speed change instantly.
Set the pitch change
new Hz = original Hz × 2^(semitones ÷ 12)Useful pitch-shift ratios
Every 12-semitone octave doubles or halves frequency. Smaller musical intervals use a fixed exponential ratio, which keeps the interval consistent at every starting pitch.
| Interval | Semitones | Ratio | From 440 Hz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octave down | -12 | 0.5× | 220 Hz |
| Perfect fifth down | -7 | 0.66742× | 293.665 Hz |
| Major third down | -4 | 0.7937× | 349.228 Hz |
| Minor third up | +3 | 1.18921× | 523.251 Hz |
| Major third up | +4 | 1.25992× | 554.365 Hz |
| Perfect fifth up | +7 | 1.49831× | 659.255 Hz |
| Octave up | +12 | 2× | 880 Hz |
Pitch shift versus playback speed
A resampler changes pitch and duration together: pitching up makes the audio shorter, and pitching down makes it longer. The speed-change result shows the rate needed for that traditional tape or sampler effect.
Modern pitch-shifting plugins can transpose while preserving duration. In that case, use the semitone or cents value directly—the displayed speed percentage is only relevant when pitch follows playback rate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate frequency after a semitone shift?+
Multiply the original frequency by 2 raised to the power of semitones divided by 12. For example, 440 Hz shifted up 12 semitones becomes 880 Hz.
How many cents are in a semitone?+
There are 100 cents in one equal-tempered semitone and 1,200 cents in an octave.
What does a negative semitone value do?+
A negative value shifts pitch downward. Minus 12 semitones halves the frequency; plus 12 semitones doubles it.
Can I use this for samples and 808s?+
Yes. Enter the detected fundamental frequency and use semitone or cents adjustments to calculate a target frequency before tuning in your sampler or DAW.