What is A=432 Hz tuning?

A=432 Hz is an alternative concert pitch that sets A4 to 432 Hz instead of the modern standard of 440 Hz. Every other note shifts down proportionally. It is sometimes preferred for its slightly lower, mellower character, though there is no scientific evidence of objective acoustic benefits.

How much lower is A=432 than A=440?

The whole tuning system drops by a constant amount: 1200 · log2(432 / 440), which is about −31.8 cents — just under a third of a semitone flat. Because it is a constant ratio, every note is shifted by the same number of cents, preserving all the intervals between notes.

How are the note frequencies calculated?

Each note frequency is A4 · 2^((midi − 69) / 12), where A4 is your chosen reference. With A4 = 432, the C4 above middle C works out near 256.87 Hz instead of the standard 261.63 Hz. The tool computes this for every chromatic note in the selected octave.

Can I use references other than 432 and 440?

Yes. Enter any positive reference frequency — for example 415 Hz for Baroque pitch, 442 Hz used by some orchestras, or 444 Hz. The table always shows your reference alongside the 440 standard and the cent deviation between them.

Will retuning to 432 change the intervals or chords?

No. Shifting the reference moves every pitch by the same ratio, so all intervals, scales and chords keep their exact relationships. Only the absolute pitch changes — a piece played at 432 sounds slightly lower overall but is otherwise musically identical.

A=432 Hz Tuning Converter

A=432 Hz is the best-known alternative to the modern A=440 Hz concert standard. This converter generates the full chromatic scale for any reference pitch you choose, showing every note’s frequency next to its 440 Hz equivalent and the constant cent deviation between the two systems.

How it works

All twelve-tone equal-temperament tunings use the same formula; only the anchor changes. For a reference A4 and a MIDI note number midi:

frequency = A4 · 2^((midi − 69) / 12)

MIDI 69 is A4 itself, so setting A4 to 432 makes that note 432 Hz and scales everything else accordingly. The deviation of the whole system from standard tuning is a single constant:

cents = 1200 · log2(A4 / 440)

For A4 = 432 this is about −31.8 cents. Because the shift is a fixed ratio applied to every note, all intervals are preserved — only the absolute pitches move.

Tips and example

In the octave around middle C, A=440 gives C4 at 261.63 Hz and A4 at 440 Hz. Switch the reference to 432 and C4 drops to about 256.87 Hz while A4 sits at 432 Hz, the whole octave roughly 31.8 cents lower.

The cent deviation is identical for every note, so transposing between systems is uniform.
Use 415 Hz for Baroque pitch or 442 Hz for some modern orchestras.
Chords and melodies keep their character; only the overall pitch level changes.

The full table is computed in your browser.