Pitch and frequency

Beginner

Higher frequency means higher pitch.

Pitch is the perception of frequency: higher frequency, higher pitch. Doubling the frequency raises the pitch by an octave.

Worked example

Middle A is 440 Hz.

Common mistake

Pitch is subjective, but closely follows frequency.

In more detail

Pitch is our perception of how high or low a sound is, closely related to its frequency. Higher frequencies are perceived as higher pitch.

Tuning a guitar by adjusting string tension to change pitch.
Speech analysis tracks pitch to understand intonation.
A piano keyboard goes higher in pitch as the frequency rises, with each octave doubling the frequency.

Is pitch the same as frequency?

Closely related, but perceived pitch also depends on loudness and timbre.

What is middle A?

A4, at 440 Hz in standard concert tuning.

Does a higher pitch mean a louder sound?

No. Pitch depends on frequency, while loudness depends mainly on the amplitude and intensity of the wave.