Pitch Shifter: Free Online Tool to Change Audio Pitch

Change the pitch of any audio file with our free Pitch Shifter tool. Upload your MP3, WAV, or other audio file and shift it up or down by semitones—perfect for transposing songs, matching keys, or creating special effects.

What Is Pitch Shifting?

Pitch shifting changes the frequency of audio without (or with minimal) change to the duration. It's measured in semitones, where:

• 12 semitones = 1 octave (doubling or halving the frequency)
• 1 semitone = 1 piano key (the smallest interval in Western music)

Common pitch shift intervals:

Semitones	Musical Interval	Effect
+12	Octave up	Voice sounds like a chipmunk
+7	Perfect fifth up	Harmony creation
+5	Perfect fourth up	Key transposition
+2	Whole step	Minor key change
+1	Half step	Subtle pitch raise
0	Original	No change
-1	Half step	Subtle pitch drop
-2	Whole step	Minor key change
-5	Perfect fourth down	Key transposition
-7	Perfect fifth down	Harmony creation
-12	Octave down	Deep, dramatic effect

How to Use This Tool

1. Upload Your Audio

Click Choose Audio File and select any audio file from your device. Supported formats include MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and other browser-compatible audio.

2. Adjust the Pitch

Use the slider to shift the pitch from -12 semitones (one octave down) to +12 semitones (one octave up). Quick-select buttons are provided for common intervals.

3. Play and Listen

Press Play to hear your pitch-shifted audio. Adjust as needed until you achieve the desired result.

Common Use Cases

Transposing for Instruments

If a song is in a difficult key for your instrument, pitch shift it to an easier one:

• Guitarists: Shift a song down 1-2 semitones to match a capo position or lower tuning
• Vocalists: Find your comfortable range by shifting songs up or down
• Brass/Woodwind: Transpose to match your instrument's key (Bb, Eb, etc.)

Learning and Practice

• Slow down fast passages: A -12 shift halves the tempo, making complex licks easier to learn
• Match your tuning: If your instrument is tuned differently (432 Hz vs 440 Hz), pitch shift recordings to match

Music Production

• Create harmonies: Shift vocals up or down to create layered harmony tracks
• Special effects: Extreme pitch shifts create dramatic transformations
• Sample manipulation: Pitch shift drum loops or samples to fit your project's key

DJ and Performance

• Key matching: Shift tracks to harmonically match during transitions
• Creative effects: Pitch shifts add variety to live performances

Understanding Semitones

A semitone (also called a half step) is the smallest interval in Western music. On a piano, it's the distance between any two adjacent keys (including black keys).

Semitones in Context

From C to...	Semitones	Interval Name
C# / Db	1	Minor 2nd
D	2	Major 2nd
D# / Eb	3	Minor 3rd
E	4	Major 3rd
F	5	Perfect 4th
F# / Gb	6	Tritone
G	7	Perfect 5th
G# / Ab	8	Minor 6th
A	9	Major 6th
A# / Bb	10	Minor 7th
B	11	Major 7th
C (octave)	12	Perfect octave

The Math Behind Pitch Shifting

The relationship between pitch and frequency follows the formula:

frequency_ratio = 2^(semitones / 12)

For example:

• +12 semitones: 2^(12/12) = 2 (double the frequency)
• +7 semitones: 2^(7/12) ≈ 1.498 (perfect fifth)
• -12 semitones: 2^(-12/12) = 0.5 (half the frequency)

This is why an octave represents a doubling of frequency—it's built into the mathematics of our 12-tone equal temperament system.

Limitations of Browser-Based Pitch Shifting

This tool uses the Web Audio API's playbackRate property, which is simple but has trade-offs:

Approach	Pros	Cons
Playback Rate (this tool)	Simple, real-time, no artifacts	Changes tempo with pitch
Granular Synthesis	Preserves tempo	Can introduce artifacts, computationally expensive
Phase Vocoder	High quality	Complex, latency

For professional work requiring tempo-independent pitch shifting, consider dedicated software like:

• Ableton Live (Warp)
• Logic Pro (Flex Pitch)
• FL Studio (Pitch Shift)
• Audacity (free, with plugins)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pitch shift without changing the tempo?

This basic tool does change tempo when you shift pitch. True tempo-independent pitch shifting requires advanced algorithms like granular synthesis or phase vocoders. The "Maintain Tempo" option is experimental and may affect audio quality.

What audio formats are supported?

Any format your browser can decode: MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC, and WebM audio are typically supported. If a file doesn't work, try converting it to MP3 or WAV.

Is there a file size limit?

Files are processed locally in your browser, so there's no upload limit. However, very large files (over 100MB) may cause performance issues depending on your device's memory.

Can I save the pitch-shifted audio?

This tool is for real-time preview. To export pitch-shifted audio, use desktop software like Audacity (free) or a DAW.

Why does my voice sound like a chipmunk at +12?

Raising pitch by an octave doubles the frequency of all sounds, including the formants that give voices their characteristic timbre. This creates the classic "chipmunk" effect. Lower shifts create the opposite "deep voice" effect.

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