Equal Temperament vs. Werckmeister IV
Compare the tuning characteristics of Equal Temperament and Werckmeister IV — cent deviations per note, practical guidance, and historical context.
At a Glance
| Feature | Equal Temperament | Werckmeister IV |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Smoother key transitions compared to Werckmeister III; less dramatic key color. |
| Key Limitation | Pure fifths (2 cents flat) and major thirds (14 cents sharp) are slightly impure in every key. | Less frequently used historically; key character less pronounced than Werckmeister III. |
| Typical Use | Standard tuning for all modern Western instruments since the 20th century. | Experimental Baroque repertoire and comparative well-temperament studies. |
Cent Deviations: All 12 Notes vs. Equal Temperament
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative = flatter. Difference column shows Werckmeister IV minus Equal Temperament: positive means Werckmeister IV is sharper.
| Note | Equal Temperament (¢) | Werckmeister IV (¢) | Difference (¢) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C4 | 0.00 | +7.82 | +7.82 |
| Db4 | 0.00 | -5.87 | -5.87 |
| D4 | 0.00 | +3.91 | +3.91 |
| Eb4 | 0.00 | +1.96 | +1.96 |
| E4 | 0.00 | -3.91 | -3.91 |
| F4 | 0.00 | +9.78 | +9.78 |
| Gb4 | 0.00 | -7.82 | -7.82 |
| G4 | 0.00 | +1.96 | +1.96 |
| Ab4 | 0.00 | -1.96 | -1.96 |
| A4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Bb4 | 0.00 | +9.78 | +9.78 |
| B4 | 0.00 | -5.87 | -5.87 |
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 IV when:
Choose Werckmeister IV 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 IV
- Developed by Andreas Werckmeister (1691) — Baroque era
Compare Temperaments in Tunable — Get Tunable.
Tunable supports Equal Temperament, Werckmeister IV, and 14 other tuning systems. Hear the difference in real-time as you play.
