Semitone Shift
Shift a base frequency up or down by a number of semitones.
About Semitone Shift
Each semitone multiplies the frequency by the twelfth root of two, so seven semitones give a perfect fifth ratio. Transposition tools and pitch correction work in semitones, and knowing the exact resulting frequency matters for tuning.
Formula
Semitone Shift
New freq = base x 2^(semitones/12)
- semitones
- Chromatic steps to transpose (negative shifts down)
Worked example
With the default values below, Semitone Shift returns New Frequency of 329.63. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Base frequencyminimum 1 Hz
- 220 Hz
- Semitonesaccepts -120–120 st
- 7 st
Results
- New Frequency
- 329.63 Hz
- Frequency Ratio
- 1.4983
- Total Cents
- 700 cents
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Semitone Shift
- 3New Frequency= 329.63 Hz
- 4Frequency Ratio= 1.4983
- 5Total Cents= 700 cents
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Semitone Shift calculated?
New freq = base x 2^(semitones/12) Each semitone multiplies the frequency by the twelfth root of two, so seven semitones give a perfect fifth ratio.
Why does Semitone Shift matter?
Transposition tools and pitch correction work in semitones, and knowing the exact resulting frequency matters for tuning.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Base frequency, Semitones. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.