415 Hz Tuner (Baroque Pitch, A = 415)
This 415 Hz tuner opens with the reference A at 415 Hz, the conventional pitch for baroque music played on period instruments. That A is almost exactly the A♭ of modern pitch, so the whole ensemble sounds about a semitone lower than at 440. It is our chromatic tuner with the Reference A already set, so every note, the needle and the cents are calculated from 415.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and allow access.
- Check that the Reference A menu shows 415 Hz.
- Play a note, let it ring and adjust until the reading turns green.
- The tuner measures against equal temperament: for a historical temperament, apply the cent offsets from your table.
Help and explanations
It is made for harpsichordists, viol and baroque violin players, traverso and recorder players, and singers. The tuner is chromatic and runs in the browser, with no app to install.
Why 415 Hz?
Before the 20th century the A varied by city, period and instrument. To play together on copies of old instruments, early-music players adopted a practical convention: 415 Hz, a semitone below 440. Many harpsichords even have a transposing keyboard that shifts between the two.
Other historical pitches
French music of the 17th and 18th centuries is often played at the so-called Versailles pitch, around 392 Hz, a whole tone below 440; classical repertoire such as Mozart or Haydn often at 430 Hz; some Venetian and German music at 466 Hz. 430 and 466 are in the menu. For 392 Hz, keep 440: your A should then read as an in-tune G.
Tuning gut strings and wooden winds
Gut strings and wooden instruments react to humidity and temperature far more than modern steel and metal. A viol or baroque violin that was perfect before the interval can be ten cents off after it, and a traverso warms up as you play. Tune to the harpsichord or organ in the room, check again between pieces, and keep the phone close to the instrument so the mic picks up the fundamental rather than the hall.
Tips
- Gut strings move a lot with humidity and heat: retune between pieces.
- In an ensemble, tune to the harpsichord, the instrument that takes longest to retune.
- To return to modern pitch, choose 440 or 442 Hz in the menu; the choice is saved on this device and shared with the other Lalatone tuners.
Frequently asked questions
Is A 415 Hz the same as A♭?
Almost: the A♭ of 440 pitch sounds at 415.3 Hz. Set to 415, the tuner shows that note as A, since it is the A of your ensemble.
How do I tune a harpsichord to 415?
Tune the A to 415 Hz first, then the other notes according to the chosen temperament (meantone, Werckmeister, Vallotti and so on), applying the cent corrections from your table.
Do all baroque ensembles play at 415 Hz?
No. It is the most widespread convention, but French repertoire is often played around 392 Hz, and other groups use 430 or 466 Hz. Always ask the director or the harpsichordist which pitch is in use.
Can I tune my recorder with this tuner?
Yes, if it was built for 415, which is marked on the instrument. An ordinary school recorder is made for 440 or 442 Hz and will not come down a full semitone.