All Terms

Concert Pitch

Anatomy & Gear

The standard reference pitch where A above middle C equals 440 Hz.

Concert pitch (also called standard pitch or A440) is the universal tuning reference used by musicians worldwide. It defines the note A above middle C as exactly 440 vibrations per second (440 Hz). All other notes are tuned relative to this reference.

When you tune your ukulele with a tuner set to A=440 Hz, you're tuning to concert pitch. This ensures your ukulele will sound in tune when playing along with recordings, other instruments, or backing tracks that also use A=440.

Some musicians prefer slightly different reference pitches. A=432 Hz is popular in some circles for its reportedly "warmer" sound. European orchestras sometimes tune to A=442 Hz or A=444 Hz for a brighter tone. Most digital tuners default to A=440.

Related Terms

TuningSemitone

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