In this system, when D is tuned at 288 Hz, the note A (the perfect fifth of D) must amount to 432 Hz because it is 3/2 (or 1.5) times the frequency of D (288 Hz x 1.5 = 432 Hz). The 3:2 interval ratio found in Pythagorean tuning also informs a distinct but similar concept known as Pythagorean temperament, a 12-tone system based on a stack of perfect fifths. Though it's unclear who exactly is responsible for what became known as Pythagorean tuning, it's believed Pythagoras developed the tuning system using the ratio of 3:2 as the basis for perfect fifth harmonies (hence why it's named after him). Pythagoras, ancient philosopher and mathematician famous for his theorem regarding right angles, also had a deep interest in music. We'll keep it brief by touching on the main players and events that built this rich history. The complete history of this standardization, of course, is far more robust, and begins a long, long time ago. The short version of the history is as follows: In the 20th century, a group of influential musicians and physicists worldwide gathered and agreed to set A4= 440 Hz as the standard tuning for orchestras moving forward. The standard tuning of A4= 440 Hz is no exception to this rule. Standards emerge for a host of arbitrary and evidence-based reasons alike - regardless of these reasons, something ultimately becomes standard practice because enough people (especially those with authority and status) agree upon it. How A4 = 440 Hz Became the Standard: A Brief History In this blog, we'll discuss the historical rise of 440 Hz as today's concert pitch, the real and perceived differences between 440 and 432 Hz, and why some people prefer one tuning standard over the other. Still, there remains a group of contrarians, audio enthusiasts, and true believers who prefer 432 Hz, or at least want to see this alternative tuning standard become more accepted by modern ears. It's a long-standing debate among musicians, audio engineers, acoustic physicists, and pseudo-scientists: which tuning standard is the "right one?" A4= 440 Hz or A4= 432 Hz? In many ways, the debate seems to be over - 440 Hz has been the common tuning standard in most parts of the world for several decades.
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