What is the difference between 440 Hz and 432 Hz tuning?

Both are equal-temperament tuning systems — the only difference is the reference pitch for A4. At 440 Hz (the international ISO 16 standard) A4 = 440 Hz. At 432 Hz, A4 = 432 Hz. All other notes shift by the same ratio (432/440 ≈ 0.9818). The interval difference is about 31.8 cents — roughly one third of a semitone flatter.

How do you convert a frequency from 440 Hz to 432 Hz?

Multiply the 440 Hz frequency by 432/440 (≈ 0.98182). For example, A4 at 440 Hz → 440 × 0.98182 = 432.00 Hz. Middle C (C4) at 440 Hz = 261.626 Hz → 261.626 × 0.98182 ≈ 256.869 Hz.

Is 432 Hz scientifically proven to sound better?

There is no peer-reviewed scientific evidence that 432 Hz tuning has measurable physiological or psychological benefits over 440 Hz. It remains a personal or aesthetic preference for some musicians.

What is the formula for note frequency in equal temperament?

f = A4_ref × 2^((n − 69) / 12), where n is the MIDI note number (A4 = 69). Changing A4_ref from 440 to 432 scales every note by the same ratio.

Does the cent difference change for different notes?

No. Because both systems use equal temperament with the same semitone ratio (2^(1/12)), the cent difference between 440 Hz and 432 Hz is constant at approximately −31.8 cents for every note across all octaves.

Can this tool convert MP3 or audio files to 432 Hz?

No. This tool is a musical note frequency calculator and reference chart for instrument and synthesizer tuning. To pitch-shift an audio file (such as MP3 or WAV) to 432 Hz, use audio editing software or a DAW to lower pitch by 31.77 cents (or slow the track to 0.981818× speed).

432 Hz Tuning Calculator

Select any musical note and octave to calculate its exact frequency in both 440 Hz and 432 Hz tuning, with cent offsets and full octave comparison charts.

Looking for audio file conversion? This calculator provides exact musical note frequencies, cents offsets, and reference charts for instrument and synthesizer tuning. It does not convert or pitch-shift audio files (e.g. MP3, WAV, FLAC).

Select Note

Note

Octave

Constant difference: Every note is −31.77 cents lower at 432 Hz vs 440 Hz. The ratio is 432 / 440 ≈ 0.98182.

Select a note and click Convert

440 Hz Tuning

440.000 Hz

432 Hz Tuning

432.000 Hz

Hz Difference −8.000

Cents −31.77

Ratio 0.98182

All Notes in Octave 4 — 440 Hz vs 432 Hz

Note	440 Hz	432 Hz	Diff (Hz)

Done!

Summary

Select any musical note and octave to calculate its exact frequency in both 440 Hz and 432 Hz tuning, with cent offsets and full octave comparison charts.

How it works

Select a note name (C through B) from the dropdown.
Choose an octave number (0 through 8); octave 4 contains middle C and A4.
Click Convert to see the frequency in both 440 Hz and 432 Hz tuning.
Click Play 440 Hz or Play 432 Hz to hear the tones back to back.
Scroll down to see the full comparison table for all 12 notes in the chosen octave.

Use cases

Retune synthesizer patches from concert pitch to 432 Hz without guessing.
Compare how any specific note sounds in both tuning standards.
Build 432 Hz frequency reference charts for music theory students.
Verify a sample library or plugin output against the expected 432 Hz frequency.
Explore the full set of 432 Hz note frequencies across all octaves.
Understand how much 440 Hz and 432 Hz actually differ in cents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu