Equal Temperament vs. Young Temperament
Compare the tuning characteristics of Equal Temperament and Young Temperament — cent deviations per note, practical guidance, and historical context.
At a Glance
| Feature | Equal Temperament | Young Temperament |
|---|---|---|
| Category | equal | well-temperament |
| Formula Type | equal-division | cent-offsets |
| Historical Era | Modern | Classical |
| Key Advantage | All 12 keys are equally in-tune — transpose freely without re-tuning. | Gentle key color with pure-leaning thirds in flat-side keys; very playable in all keys. |
| Key Limitation | Pure fifths (2 cents flat) and major thirds (14 cents sharp) are slightly impure in every key. | Modest key character differences may feel too uniform for some Baroque repertoire. |
| Typical Use | Standard tuning for all modern Western instruments since the 20th century. | Classical and Romantic keyboard music; frequently cited in tuning comparisons. |
Cent Deviations: All 12 Notes vs. Equal Temperament
Positive cents = sharper than equal temperament. Negative = flatter. Difference column shows Young Temperament minus Equal Temperament: positive means Young Temperament is sharper.
| Note | Equal Temperament (¢) | Young Temperament (¢) | Difference (¢) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C4 | 0.00 | +7.82 | +7.82 |
| Db4 | 0.00 | +1.96 | +1.96 |
| D4 | 0.00 | +1.96 | +1.96 |
| Eb4 | 0.00 | +9.78 | +9.78 |
| E4 | 0.00 | -1.96 | -1.96 |
| F4 | 0.00 | +5.87 | +5.87 |
| Gb4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| G4 | 0.00 | +5.87 | +5.87 |
| Ab4 | 0.00 | +1.96 | +1.96 |
| A4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Bb4 | 0.00 | +7.82 | +7.82 |
| 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 Young Temperament when:
Choose Young Temperament 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
- Young Temperament
- Developed by Thomas Young (1800) — Classical era
Compare Temperaments in Tunable — Get Tunable.
Tunable supports Equal Temperament, Young Temperament, and 14 other tuning systems. Hear the difference in real-time as you play.
