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Posted By: Brian Johnston 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 11:28 AM
If I understand correctly, G at 440 hz sounds like Gb at 432 hz. It's 'off' by a semi-tone. If I'm not wrong on that, I could be, then could you play one instrument tuned at 440Hz (G note) and another instrument tuned at 432Hz (Gb note)? Would they sound in harmony or the same.

If not... if I had a tongue drum tuned at 432hz, is it impossible to play 'any' instrument (e.g., electric guitar) at 440 hz? Would they sound incompatible, no matter what notes are played on either?
Posted By: MarioD Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 11:56 AM
An instrument tuned to A-432 hz and one tuned to A-440hz would be 0.32 semitones apart; see here

https://users.utu.fi/jyrtuoma/speech/semitone.html

So yes they would sound terrible it played together. In your case you would have to tune your guitar to A-432hz.

Actually my wife's old upright piano is tuned to A-432hz to reduce the tension on those old parts; I mean the parts of the piano and not the wife grin.
Posted By: Brian Johnston Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 12:03 PM
Originally Posted By: MarioD
An instrument tuned to A-432 hz and one tuned to A-440hz would be 0.32 semitones apart; see here

https://users.utu.fi/jyrtuoma/speech/semitone.html

So yes they would sound terrible it played together. In your case you would have to tune your guitar to A-432hz.

Actually my wife's old upright piano is tuned to A-432hz to reduce the tension on those old parts; I mean the parts of the piano and not the wife grin.


Thank you. Then there's no way a jaw harp (using 440hz) is going to gel with a tongue drum tuned to 432 hz. Ugghhh.
Posted By: Matt Finley Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 12:50 PM
Mario is correct, the difference is much less than even a half/step. Instruments hard tuned to 432 are likely a hundred years old, or made is a few countries in Europe.

The guitar can be tuned down, no problem, but it’s annoying. A piano normally could be lowered, once, from 440 to 432 but not the reverse and I wouldn’t want to be the tuner trying to bring it back to 440. A wind instrument just pulls out the tuning slide.
Posted By: Brian Johnston Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 12:51 PM
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Mario is correct, the difference is much less than even a half/step. Your piano is likely a hundred years old, or made is a few countries in Europe.


Enough to make things sound 'sour'
Posted By: Brian Johnston Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 12:53 PM
Can you make BIAB 432hz?
Posted By: Matt Finley Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 12:55 PM
Yes, I know the MIDI can be adjusted. I think it’s in Options, General MIDI or something like that.

Not sure yet what this does to RealTracks.
Posted By: Brian Johnston Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 02:20 PM
Thanks for all the quick feedback. I did a 'test' and my sound card does not allow for 432hz tunings... so that settles that.
Posted By: Matt Finley Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 03:00 PM
What was your test?

What sound card do you have?
Posted By: Simon - PG Music Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 06:00 PM
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
What was your test?

What sound card do you have?


I believe the test he did was likely the Test button in the Master Tune dialog - see the attached screenshot on how to get there.

Most, if not all, sound cards these days do not support master tuning in this way - I believe this was specifically for very old soundcards that had built-in general MIDI synths.

Attached picture tuning.png
Posted By: MarioD Re: 432hz vs. 440 hz - 08/05/21 08:34 PM
Brian I have to ask what patch/software are you using that is at A=432hz? Virtually all of the patches or software I have collected since the mid 1980s have been at A=440hz. If it is a real tongue drum check out the tuning via a chromatic guitar tuner or actually any chromatic tuner.

But if it is A=432hz all is not lost. Record the instrument then put the wav into software that can detune it. A lot of DAWs can detune a track as can pitch correction software. If you raise said track up about 32 cents, that would equal 0.32 hz, bring the track to A=440hz. You may have to experiment to get the exact detuning.

I hope this helps.
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