Equal Temperament vs. Werckmeister III
Compare the tuning characteristics of Equal Temperament and Werckmeister III — cent deviations per note, practical guidance, and historical context.
At a Glance
| Feature | Equal Temperament | Werckmeister III |
|---|---|---|
| Category | equal | well-temperament |
| Formula Type | equal-division | cent-offsets |
| Historical Era | Modern | Baroque |
| Key Advantage | All 12 keys are equally in-tune — transpose freely without re-tuning. | All 24 major and minor keys are playable — each key has a distinct character. |
| Key Limitation | Pure fifths (2 cents flat) and major thirds (14 cents sharp) are slightly impure in every key. | Simpler keys are purer than remote keys; not the brightest choice for remote tonality. |
| Typical Use | Standard tuning for all modern Western instruments since the 20th century. | Baroque keyboard music, particularly works exploiting key color contrasts. |
Cent Deviations: All 12 Notes vs. Equal Temperament
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative = flatter. Difference column shows Werckmeister III minus Equal Temperament: positive means Werckmeister III is sharper.
| Note | Equal Temperament (¢) | Werckmeister III (¢) | Difference (¢) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C4 | 0.00 | +11.73 | +11.73 |
| Db4 | 0.00 | +1.96 | +1.96 |
| D4 | 0.00 | +3.91 | +3.91 |
| Eb4 | 0.00 | +13.69 | +13.69 |
| E4 | 0.00 | -1.96 | -1.96 |
| F4 | 0.00 | +9.78 | +9.78 |
| Gb4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| G4 | 0.00 | +7.82 | +7.82 |
| Ab4 | 0.00 | +3.91 | +3.91 |
| A4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Bb4 | 0.00 | +11.73 | +11.73 |
| B4 | 0.00 | -1.96 | -1.96 |
When to Choose Each
Choose Equal Temperament when:
Choose Equal Temperament for modern ensembles, fixed-pitch instruments (piano, guitar, wind instruments), and any music that modulates freely across all 24 keys. It is the universal standard for contemporary Western music.
Choose Werckmeister III when:
Choose Werckmeister III for Baroque keyboard repertoire spanning multiple keys — especially works that tour the circle of fifths. Its varied key color gives each tonality a distinctive musical character.
Historical Context
Well temperaments emerged in the Baroque era as practical compromises enabling all 24 keys, while Equal Temperament achieved true key equality only in the 20th century. J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (1722) may have been composed with a specific well temperament — not equal temperament — in mind.
- Equal Temperament
- Developed by Theoretical development (12-TET standardized c. 1900) — Modern era
- Werckmeister III
- Developed by Andreas Werckmeister (1691) — Baroque era
Compare Temperaments in Tunable — Get Tunable.
Tunable supports Equal Temperament, Werckmeister III, and 14 other tuning systems. Hear the difference in real-time as you play.
