Looking for a good explanation of our tuning system

Quarinteen · 08-07-2022, 10:49 AM

Hello everybody, I am new here. I am 40 I live in Vegas. I just decided to learn guitar and I have been learning about tuning. I was reading there is a “standard “ of A440 hz which the United States implemented in the 50’s or something. I understand what the 440 is but what is the A for? The next part I want to understand is how it works exactly. If I tune my guitar’s E string the proper frequency from what I understand; why c isn’t saying much but still. The big E has a frequency of 329.63hz. So where is this A440 A432 tuning talk my place? Is it something they have done to modify speakers? I am sorry for the ignorance but I am very curious how all this works

GD · 08-07-2022, 11:50 AM

As you may know the hz (short for 'herz') value denotes the frequency of a pitch by the number of oscillations per second.
The 'A' in A440/A=440 hz refers to the A above middle C (shown below) in a standard (or 'concert pitch') musical score.

This note is the one most commonly used as a reference when tuning instruments which are meant to play together in an ensemble or orchestra.
The average tuning fork also sounds this pitch. So for example, if you wanted to tune your guitar using a tuning fork, fretting the 5th fret on your high E string(/1st string) should sound in unison with the note produced by the tuning fork.

The frequencies used for all other notes (on modern instruments) derives from a system called 12-tone equal temperament/12-TET, where all semitones and intervals of the same name have the exact same ratios regardless of where they appear in relation to the agreed upon basic frequency of A=440. You can find out more about the specifics here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_equal_temperament

08-07-2022, 10:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Quarinteen Groupie Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 1	Looking for a good explanation of our tuning system Hello everybody, I am new here. I am 40 I live in Vegas. I just decided to learn guitar and I have been learning about tuning. I was reading there is a “standard “ of A440 hz which the United States implemented in the 50’s or something. I understand what the 440 is but what is the A for? The next part I want to understand is how it works exactly. If I tune my guitar’s E string the proper frequency from what I understand; why c isn’t saying much but still. The big E has a frequency of 329.63hz. So where is this A440 A432 tuning talk my place? Is it something they have done to modify speakers? I am sorry for the ignorance but I am very curious how all this works

08-07-2022, 11:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
GD ???pp? ??snW Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NO Posts: 686	As you may know the hz (short for 'herz') value denotes the frequency of a pitch by the number of oscillations per second. The 'A' in A440/A=440 hz refers to the A above middle C (shown below) in a standard (or 'concert pitch') musical score. This note is the one most commonly used as a reference when tuning instruments which are meant to play together in an ensemble or orchestra. The average tuning fork also sounds this pitch. So for example, if you wanted to tune your guitar using a tuning fork, fretting the 5th fret on your high E string(/1st string) should sound in unison with the note produced by the tuning fork. The frequencies used for all other notes (on modern instruments) derives from a system called 12-tone equal temperament/12-TET, where all semitones and intervals of the same name have the exact same ratios regardless of where they appear in relation to the agreed upon basic frequency of A=440. You can find out more about the specifics here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_equal_temperament __________________ lasty\|rate-y music-y