<P> Pitch pipes of this sort were most often used in the 18th and 19th centuries in churches which had no organ to give the opening note of a hymn . They are now quite rare, and hardly ever used for what they were intended, but may still be used as an alternative to a tuning fork . They are also useful for establishing what pitch standard was being used at a particular place and time . </P> <P> Although few look like a pipe, the pitch pipe name is still applied to any device used as a pitch reference . The most common type is a circular free reed aerophone . These are discs with the holes for the reeds around the perimeter and with marked openings for each note, into which the user blows . Inside the pipe, the air flows through a hole in a plate past the selected rectangular metal reed (usually brass). The airflow is modulated by the oscillating reed, then it resonates in an outer sounding chamber . In recent years, electronic push - button devices simulating chromatic pitch pipes have become available which are small enough to fit on key chains . </P> <P> Some pitch pipes are intended for tuning string instruments, and only provide reeds for notes appropriate to a particular instrument . Chromatic pitch pipes are favored by a cappella singers and timpanists . Chromatic pipes most often provide thirteen pitches, each a half step above the previous . By providing all of the notes of a single octave, a singer can start in any key called for in Western music . Different pipes are available for bass and treble voices due to variations in vocal range . Most male and female performers prefer to use F-F pipes and C-C pipes, respectively . However, it is particularly notable that the Men's pipe in F is pitched higher than the Women's C pipe . Pipes in other keys are available, but are much more rare . </P> <P> The singers' normal use of the pipe is to play the initial key note or tonic of the piece to be sung . Less frequently the pipe will be used to play the first sung note of the song, especially where the song begins in unison or with a solo . </P>

What does a g sound like on a pitch pipe