432 Hz Tuning Guide - What It Is, Note Chart, and How to Convert from 440 Hz
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Tuning Reference Guide

432 Hz Tuning

What is 432 Hz tuning, how it compares to 440 Hz standard tuning, and a complete note frequency chart for every note at 432 Hz.

A4 = 432 Hz
A4 is set to 432 Hz instead of the standard 440 Hz. All notes shift proportionally.
-31.8 cents
432 Hz is 31.8 cents below 440 Hz standard tuning. Less than one semitone (100 cents).
432/440
The conversion ratio. Multiply any 440 Hz frequency by 0.9818 to get the 432 Hz equivalent.

What Is 432 Hz Tuning?

432 Hz tuning (also called "432 Hz concert pitch" or "Verdi tuning") means setting the note A4 to 432 Hz instead of the internationally standardized 440 Hz. When you tune to 432 Hz, all other notes shift down proportionally by the same ratio (432/440 = approximately 0.9818).

The result is that every note in 432 Hz tuning is approximately 31.8 cents lower than its 440 Hz equivalent. This is slightly less than one third of a semitone.

The 440 Hz standard was adopted internationally in 1939 (ISO 16) and has been the global reference pitch ever since. Before standardization, concert pitch varied widely between 415 Hz (Baroque), 430-435 Hz (Classical/Romantic), and higher values used by some 20th-century orchestras.

432 Hz vs 440 Hz: Key Differences

Feature432 Hz Tuning440 Hz Standard
A4 reference pitch432 Hz440 Hz
Cents difference31.8 cents lower than 440 HzInternational standard (ISO 16)
HistoryAssociated with Verdi, some Baroque pitch levelsAdopted globally in 1939
Instrument compatibilityInstruments must be retuned or DAW master pitch adjustedWorks with all standard-tuned instruments
DAW setupMaster pitch or transpose plugin set to -31.8 centsNo adjustment needed (default)
CollaborationIncompatible with 440 Hz instruments without retuningUniversal compatibility
ClaimsMore natural, warmer, healing frequencies (not scientifically proven)No special claims; practical standard
Science verdictNo peer-reviewed evidence of perceptual or physical benefitPractical universal standard

Does 432 Hz Sound Better Than 440 Hz?

Arguments for 432 Hz
  • Many listeners report it sounds warmer or more relaxed
  • Some instruments (especially strings and voice) sound slightly fuller when tuned lower
  • Historical precedent: many pre-1939 recordings used pitches close to 432 Hz
  • Some musicians feel it puts less strain on the voice (slightly lower pitch)
The Science
  • No peer-reviewed double-blind study has found listeners can reliably prefer 432 Hz
  • The 31.8 cent difference is small enough that most listeners cannot detect it without comparison
  • Claims about "natural frequencies," "sacred geometry," or "DNA resonance" are not scientifically supported
  • The perception of warmth may simply be the effect of anything pitched lower sounding more relaxed
Bottom line

Use 432 Hz if it feels right for your music and your audience. Avoid it if you are collaborating with standard-tuned musicians or releasing music that needs to match 440 Hz references. The difference is real but subtle, and preference is personal.

Note Frequency Chart: 432 Hz vs 440 Hz

Middle octave (C4 to C5). All 432 Hz values calculated as 440 Hz x (432/440).

NoteMIDI440 Hz (Standard)432 HzDifference
C460261.63 Hz256.87 Hz-4.76 Hz
C#4 / Db461277.18 Hz272.14 Hz-5.04 Hz
D462293.66 Hz288.32 Hz-5.34 Hz
D#4 / Eb463311.13 Hz305.47 Hz-5.66 Hz
E464329.63 Hz323.64 Hz-5.99 Hz
F465349.23 Hz342.88 Hz-6.35 Hz
F#4 / Gb466369.99 Hz363.26 Hz-6.73 Hz
G467392.00 Hz384.87 Hz-7.13 Hz
G#4 / Ab468415.30 Hz407.75 Hz-7.55 Hz
A469440.00 Hz432.00 Hz-8.00 Hz
A#4 / Bb470466.16 Hz457.68 Hz-8.48 Hz
B471493.88 Hz484.90 Hz-8.98 Hz
C572523.25 Hz513.74 Hz-9.51 Hz

808 Tuning at 432 Hz

If your track is in 432 Hz tuning, use these Hz values to tune your 808 bass. Load your 808 sample in your sampler and set the root note pitch to match these targets.

Note440 Hz Standard432 Hz
C132.70 Hz32.11 Hz
D136.71 Hz36.05 Hz
E141.20 Hz40.47 Hz
F143.65 Hz42.88 Hz
G149.00 Hz48.13 Hz
A155.00 Hz54.00 Hz
C265.41 Hz64.23 Hz
D273.42 Hz72.10 Hz
E282.41 Hz80.95 Hz
F287.31 Hz85.77 Hz
G298.00 Hz96.25 Hz
A2110.00 Hz108.00 Hz

How to Tune to 432 Hz

In Your DAW
1
FL Studio: Options menu, then set Master Pitch to -31 cents (approximately). Or use the Pitch Bender plugin at the master level.
2
Ableton Live: Add a Pitch MIDI effect or Tuner audio effect to your master track. Set pitch to -31.8 cents.
3
Logic Pro: Use the Pitch Shifter plugin on your master channel. Set to -31.8 cents. Or detune each instrument/sampler by -31.8 cents.
4
Any DAW: Most synths and samplers have a master tune or detune knob in cents. Set it to -31.8 cents to shift the entire instrument to 432 Hz.
On a Physical Instrument
1
Guitar / Bass: Open a chromatic tuner, tune to A4 = 432 Hz (target note: 432.0 Hz on the display). BeatKey's chromatic tuner shows Hz in real time.
2
Piano / Keyboard: Software keys: use the master detune (-31.8 cents). Hardware piano: requires professional retuning to 432 Hz.
3
Voice: Sing to a 432 Hz drone reference track. Tune any backing instruments first.
4
Verify with BeatKey: Open notes.beatkey.app/tuner, play A4, and check that the Hz display reads 432.0 Hz (not 440.0).

Verify 432 Hz Tuning with BeatKey

BeatKey's Chromatic Tuner and Note Frequency Calculator both show the exact Hz value of any pitch. This makes them uniquely useful for 432 Hz verification - most tuners only show note name and cents, not Hz.

Chromatic Tuner

Open notes.beatkey.app/tuner. Play A on your instrument. The Hz display shows the exact frequency. For 432 Hz tuning, confirm A4 reads 432.0 Hz.

Open Chromatic Tuner →
Note Frequency Calculator

Use the Hz lookup table to find target frequencies for any note at 432 Hz. Cross-reference with the 432 Hz chart on this page.

Open Note Frequency Calculator →
Why Hz display matters: Standard tuners (hardware pedals, most apps) show note name and cents offset only. They cannot tell you if A is at 432.0 Hz or 440.0 Hz - they just show "A" with 0 cents. BeatKey shows the actual Hz value, making it the only free browser tool for 432 Hz verification.

Common 432 Hz Questions

Is 432 Hz the same as 432 Hz binaural beats?
No. 432 Hz tuning refers to setting the concert pitch reference to 432 Hz (vs 440 Hz standard). 432 Hz binaural beats are a different concept: two tones played in each ear with a 432 Hz difference, which creates a perceived beat frequency. They are unrelated techniques.
Can I mix 432 Hz tracks with 440 Hz tracks?
Not without correction. Mixing 432 Hz and 440 Hz sources creates slight pitch clashes (31.8 cents difference). You would need to pitch-shift one source by +/-31.8 cents to match. Most producers work entirely in one tuning system per project.
Does Spotify or streaming normalize 432 Hz tracks?
No. Spotify loudness normalization (EBU R128, -14 LUFS) adjusts volume only, not pitch. A track recorded and mixed in 432 Hz tuning will play back in 432 Hz on all streaming platforms.
What celebrities or artists use 432 Hz?
Various artists and producers have claimed to use 432 Hz tuning, including some classical composers historically. However, most modern commercial releases are in 440 Hz. The 432 Hz community is active in new age, meditative, and some alternative genres.
How do I convert an existing 440 Hz track to 432 Hz?
In most DAWs, apply a pitch shift of -31.8 cents to the entire track or master bus. In Audacity: Effect menu, then Pitch Shift, and set to -31.8 cents. The audio will shift down slightly in pitch but maintain all relative note intervals.

Free Production Tools at BeatKey

Chromatic Tuner
Tune to 432 Hz with Hz display
Note Frequency Chart
All notes in Hz (C0 to C8)
Virtual Piano
Play notes, see their Hz
BeatKey BPM + Key
Detect BPM and key from audio
Chord Finder
Detect chords from audio
Delay Calculator
BPM-synced delay times in ms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 432 Hz tuning?
432 Hz tuning means setting A4 to 432 Hz instead of the standard 440 Hz. All other notes shift proportionally by a factor of 432/440 (approximately 31.8 cents flat). Standard tuning since 1939 uses A4 = 440 Hz as the international reference.
What note is 432 Hz?
432 Hz is A4 in 432 Hz tuning. In standard 440 Hz tuning, 432 Hz falls approximately 31.8 cents below A4, between G#4 (415.3 Hz) and A4 (440 Hz). It is not a standard named note in 440 Hz tuning.
How many cents is 432 Hz below 440 Hz?
432 Hz is approximately 31.8 cents below 440 Hz. This is calculated as 1200 x log2(432/440) = -31.8 cents. This is less than one third of a semitone (100 cents).
Does 432 Hz actually sound better than 440 Hz?
There is no scientific evidence that 432 Hz sounds better than 440 Hz. Double-blind studies find listeners cannot reliably tell the difference. The preference for 432 Hz is largely subjective. Use whichever tuning feels right for your music.