F0 — 21.827 Hz
F0 (F0) is 21.827 Hz in standard equal temperament at A=440 Hz. It is MIDI note number 17.
F0 Frequency in All Tuning Systems
| Temperament | Frequency (Hz) | Cents from Equal | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Temperament | 21.827 Hz | 0.00 | Modern standard; piano, fretted instruments |
| Pythagorean | 21.728 Hz | -7.87 | Medieval/early music; string ensemble open fifths |
| Just Intonation (Major) | 21.802 Hz | -1.98 | A cappella vocal, barbershop, Renaissance |
| Just Intonation (Minor) | 21.802 Hz | -1.98 | Minor-key vocal music, string ensembles |
| Quarter-Comma Meantone | 22.000 Hz | +13.67 | Renaissance keyboard, early Baroque organ |
| Third-Comma Meantone | 22.066 Hz | +18.85 | Renaissance vocal music in minor keys |
| Sixth-Comma Meantone | 21.938 Hz | +8.78 | Baroque orchestral ensemble compromise |
| Werckmeister III | 21.950 Hz | +9.73 | Baroque keyboard; Bach contemporaries |
| Werckmeister IV | 21.950 Hz | +9.73 | Baroque keyboard, strong key contrast |
| Werckmeister V | 21.876 Hz | +3.88 | Specialized Baroque keyboard |
| Kirnberger III | 22.000 Hz | +13.67 | Classical-era keyboard, keys near C major |
| Vallotti | 21.926 Hz | +7.83 | Baroque/Classical orchestral tuning |
| Young (1799) | 21.901 Hz | +5.86 | Classical-era keyboard |
| Bach/Lehman | 21.926 Hz | +7.83 | Bach keyboard works, Well-Tempered Clavier |
| Neidhardt | 21.901 Hz | +5.86 | 18th century keyboard, near-equal alternative |
| Kellner (Bach) | 21.970 Hz | +11.31 | Bach keyboard reconstruction |
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative cents = flatter. 100 cents = 1 semitone.
F0 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) | 21.827 Hz | US, UK, and most modern ensembles worldwide |
| A = 442 Hz | 21.926 Hz | Many European orchestras; France, Germany |
| A = 443 Hz | 21.976 Hz | Berlin Philharmonic; some US orchestras |
| A = 432 Hz | 21.430 Hz | Alternative tuning; Baroque revival |
| A = 415 Hz (Baroque) | 20.587 Hz | Historically-informed Baroque performance |
f = f_at_A440 × (concert_pitch / 440)
Why F0 Varies Across Tuning Systems
F0 shows a maximum deviation of +18.85 cents in Third-Comma Meantone compared to equal temperament. This 19-cent difference is clearly audible to trained musicians and reflects how different tuning philosophies prioritize interval purity over equal distribution.
In Third-Comma Meantone, F0 is tuned sharper than equal temperament to achieve purer intervals with nearby notes in the tuning system's favored keys.
4 of the 15 non-equal temperaments deviate by more than 10 cents for F0, making this note one where tuning system choice has a meaningful impact on pitch.
F0 Across All Tuning Systems
Explore how F0 is tuned in each historical temperament system. Each tuning system gives F0 a slightly different frequency, affecting the harmonic character of chords and melodies.
Tune F0 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.