E5 — 659.255 Hz
E5 (E5) is 659.255 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 76.
E5 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 659.255 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 660.002 Hz | +1.96 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 654.064 Hz | -13.69 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 654.064 Hz | -13.69 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 657.954 Hz | -3.42 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 657.954 Hz | -3.42 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 657.954 Hz | -3.42 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 658.509 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 657.768 Hz | -3.91 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 658.509 Hz | -1.96 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 657.954 Hz | -3.42 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 658.509 Hz | -1.96 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 658.509 Hz | -1.96 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 658.509 Hz | -1.96 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 658.509 Hz | -1.96 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 658.064 Hz | -3.13 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
E5 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) | 659.255 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 662.252 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 663.750 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 647.269 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 621.797 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Instruments That Play E5
E5 (659.255 Hz) falls within the comfortable playing range of 42 instruments.
Why E5 Varies Across Tuning Systems
E5 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), E5 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 E5, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
E5 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how E5 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives E5 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune E5 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.