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A 440 vs A 443
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gStretch

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November 6, 2011 - 2:04 am
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i was just wondering why the tuner on the site is A 443,  since concert pitch is A 440. 

the chromatic tuner that came with the cecilio violin has the ability to set the frequency of A, so i set it to 443 and its about 10 cents sharp from 440.

-g

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Chinny
Perth

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November 6, 2011 - 4:13 am
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FM has explained this one quite a few times. It's because 443hz is what orchestras typically use but the official standard for a A note is 440hz. I think that was the reasoning anyways. Can't really remember LOL

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
November 6, 2011 - 7:05 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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I cut this out of a Wiki article:

In practice the orchestras tune to a note given out by the oboe, and many oboists use an electronic tuning device. When playing with fixed-pitch instruments such as the piano, the orchestra will generally tune to them—a piano will normally have been tuned to the orchestra's normal pitch. Overall, it is thought that the general trend since the middle of the 20th century has been for standard pitch to rise, though it has been rising far more slowly than it has in the past. Some orchestras like the Berliner Philharmoniker now use a slightly lower pitch (443 Hz) than their highest previous standard (445 Hz).

Read the whole thing HERE.

Orchestras have been tuning higher and for that reason it is the natural sounding pitch for a lot of us professional musicians. Wind instruments are even built to have a higher pitch naturally. Even though the intruments can be adjusted slightly higher and lower there is the normal middle point which happens to fall around that point.

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gStretch

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November 6, 2011 - 2:26 pm
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hmm. ok:)

so we really dont know what the music of bach or mozart or beethoven sounded like.

-g

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myguitarnow
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November 6, 2011 - 4:51 pm
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No G! The difference between 443 and even 445 or more and back to 440 is nothing to worry about but for sure it is something to study about for ear training. Nothing is really exactly in tune. Bach whatever. There is a very small difference. Notes can sound a little brighter at 443 than 440 but will still sound in key. Think about all the different types of instruments. It's your own style that will get you there and then you can figure out how to jam with others in tune. Practice, Practice and more Practice. jimi-hendrix

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
November 6, 2011 - 10:00 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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If I play Bach for you tuned to a 440 A, then play it again with a 445 A, chances are that you won't hear the difference unless I begin immediately or you have an incredible pitch memory. The intervals between notes will be exactly the same either way.

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gStretch

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November 6, 2011 - 11:28 pm
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but if i learn the violin mainly with my ear at A 443 then try and play A 440 itll sound flat.  it already does sound flat since i put the tuner back on A 440. 

 

The intervals between notes will be exactly the same either way.

thats true.  

 

im just used to the piano (or keyboard in my case) where its a fixed pitch. but i do have a pitch bender on the keyboard...not quite the same thing though :)

-g 

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myguitarnow
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November 7, 2011 - 1:07 am
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You're getting too detailed G. I tune at 440 because that's what I am used to. FM tunes at 443 cause that is what he is used to. All instruments are at a different pitch a little from each other including the piano. If you hear a difference on your violin playing from 443 to 440 it is your finger positions and or your violin strings that slip out of tune a bit, or you have a very sharp ear and playing perfect??? The violin has no frets and everyones finger size is a little different so learn how to adjust to hear the right notes. Don't fret it, just jam ;-) Make sure to jam to audio if you want to play along with others. jimi-hendrix

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