middle C

American  

noun

Music.

1. the note indicated by the first leger line above the bass staff and the first below the treble staff.

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middle C British  

noun

1. music the note graphically represented on the first ledger line below the treble staff or the first ledger line above the bass staff and corresponding in pitch to an internationally standardized fundamental frequency of 261.63 hertz

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Etymology

Origin of middle C

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

For what it’s worth, though, they did find that the waves corresponded to the note of B-flat, about 57 octaves below the middle C note on a piano.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2025

In one passage shortly after Emile’s first entrance, Blanchard originally called for high G’s, which now have been lowered to B’s, one step below middle C.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2023

“It’s like the middle C, and a couple of keys on either side of it on a piano keyboard.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2023

Not quite like Ethel Merman in 1930 singing Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm", holding a middle C note for 16 bars.

From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2017

Accompanied by a plink-a-plink up above middle C, she quoted her answer: “‘What’s the rush, Mr. Blakeslee?

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns