E0 — 20.602 Hz
E0 (E0) is 20.602 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 16.
E0 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 20.602 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 20.625 Hz | +1.93 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 20.439 Hz | -13.75 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 20.439 Hz | -13.75 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 20.561 Hz | -3.45 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 20.561 Hz | -3.45 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 20.561 Hz | -3.45 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 20.578 Hz | -2.02 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 20.555 Hz | -3.95 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 20.578 Hz | -2.02 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 20.561 Hz | -3.45 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 20.578 Hz | -2.02 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 20.578 Hz | -2.02 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 20.578 Hz | -2.02 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 20.578 Hz | -2.02 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 20.565 Hz | -3.11 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E0 at Different Concert Pitches
The same note varies in frequency depending on the concert pitch standard used by your ensemble.
| Concert Pitch | Frequency (Hz) | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| A = 440 Hz (ISO standard) | 20.602 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 20.695 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 20.742 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 20.227 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 19.431 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Why E0 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E0 shows a maximum deviation of -13.75 cents in Just Intonation (Major) compared to equal temperament. This 14-cent difference reflects how different tuning philosophies prioritize interval purity over equal distribution.
In Just Intonation (Major), E0 is tuned flatter than equal temperament, reflecting this system's approach to distributing the Pythagorean comma across the chromatic scale.
2 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for E0, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E0 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E0 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E0 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune E0 with precision — Get Tunable.
Tunable supports 15+ tuning systems including equal temperament, Pythagorean, just intonation, and historical well-temperaments. See exact Hz values in real-time as you play.