E2 — 82.407 Hz
E2 (E2) is 82.407 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 40.
E2 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 82.407 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 82.500 Hz | +1.95 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 81.758 Hz | -13.69 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 81.758 Hz | -13.69 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 82.244 Hz | -3.43 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 82.244 Hz | -3.43 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 82.244 Hz | -3.43 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 82.314 Hz | -1.95 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 82.221 Hz | -3.91 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 82.314 Hz | -1.95 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 82.244 Hz | -3.43 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 82.314 Hz | -1.95 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 82.314 Hz | -1.95 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 82.314 Hz | -1.95 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 82.314 Hz | -1.95 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 82.258 Hz | -3.13 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E2 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) | 82.407 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 82.781 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 82.969 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 80.909 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 77.725 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play E2
E2 (82.407 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 25 instruments.
Why E2 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E2 shows a maximum deviation of -13.69 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), E2 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 E2, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E2 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E2 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E2 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune E2 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.