E3 — 164.814 Hz
E3 (E3) is 164.814 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 52.
E3 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 164.814 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 165.000 Hz | +1.95 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 163.516 Hz | -13.69 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 163.516 Hz | -13.69 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 164.489 Hz | -3.42 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 164.489 Hz | -3.42 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 164.489 Hz | -3.42 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 164.627 Hz | -1.97 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 164.442 Hz | -3.91 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 164.627 Hz | -1.97 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 164.489 Hz | -3.42 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 164.627 Hz | -1.97 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 164.627 Hz | -1.97 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 164.627 Hz | -1.97 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 164.627 Hz | -1.97 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 164.516 Hz | -3.13 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E3 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) | 164.814 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 165.563 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 165.938 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 161.817 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 155.449 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play E3
E3 (164.814 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 39 instruments.
Why E3 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E3 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), E3 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 E3, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E3 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E3 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E3 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune E3 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.