E1 — 41.203 Hz
E1 (E1) is 41.203 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 28.
E1 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 41.203 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 41.250 Hz | +1.97 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 40.879 Hz | -13.67 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 40.879 Hz | -13.67 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 41.122 Hz | -3.41 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 41.122 Hz | -3.41 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 41.122 Hz | -3.41 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 41.157 Hz | -1.93 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 41.110 Hz | -3.91 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 41.157 Hz | -1.93 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 41.122 Hz | -3.41 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 41.157 Hz | -1.93 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 41.157 Hz | -1.93 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 41.157 Hz | -1.93 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 41.157 Hz | -1.93 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 41.129 Hz | -3.11 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E1 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) | 41.203 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 41.391 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 41.484 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 40.454 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 38.862 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play E1
E1 (41.203 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 9 instruments.
Why E1 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E1 shows a maximum deviation of -13.67 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), E1 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 E1, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E1 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E1 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E1 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune E1 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.