Helmholtz pitch notation

Helmholtz pitch notation is a system for naming musical notes of the Western chromatic scale.

Fully described and normalized by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz, it uses a combination of upper and lower case letters (A to G),[a] and the sub- and super-prime symbols ( ͵  ′  or ⸜ ⸝) to denote each individual note of the scale.

It is one of two formal systems for naming notes in a particular octave, the other being scientific pitch notation.

][b] Helmholtz proposed this system in order to accurately define pitches in his classical work on acoustics Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen als physiologische Grundlage für die Theorie der Musik (1863) translated into English by A.J.

[2][3][c] Helmholtz based his notation on the practice of German organ builders for labelling their pipes, itself derived from the old German organ tablature in use from late medieval times until the early 18th century.