A = 440 Hz is the international standard, but many orchestras tune a little higher for a brighter sound, so string and wind players often need a 442 Hz tuner: 442 Hz is common across continental Europe and in many conservatories and youth orchestras, and some groups go to 443. The difference is about 8 cents, small on paper but clearly audible next to a piano tuned to 442.
This page is our chromatic tuner with the Reference A set to 442 Hz, so every note, the needle and the cents are calculated from it. String players can tune their open strings and wind players their tuning notes.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone. The Reference A menu already shows 442 Hz.
- Play your A first (the open A string, or your usual tuning note) and center the needle.
- Tune the remaining strings or check a few notes across your range.
- Wind players: choose B♭, E♭ or F in the Transposition menu to read written notes.
440, 442 or 443?
Follow the ensemble, not the tuner. Orchestras tune to the oboe's A, and a piano or organ in the room fixes the pitch for everyone else. Pitch varies by country and group: 440 Hz is the norm in many places, while 442 and 443 Hz are common in Germany, Austria and much of Europe. If you are unsure, ask your conductor or check the piano, then set the same value here.
Tips
- The reference is saved on this device and used by the other Lalatone tuners until you change it.
- Wind players need their slide, barrel or headjoint slightly further in at 442 than at 440.
- Tuning a whole section? Have everyone set the same reference before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Why do orchestras tune to 442 Hz?
A slightly higher pitch sounds brighter and projects more in a large hall. It is a tradition, not a rule, and it varies by orchestra and country.
How much higher is 442 than 440?
About 7.9 cents, less than a tenth of a semitone. Every note shifts by the same ratio.
Can I tune my violin to 442 Hz here?
Yes. Play each open string and center the needle, or open the violin tuner, which uses the same saved reference.
Should my band tune to 442?
Only if everyone, including any keyboard or piano, uses 442. Most school and community bands in the US tune to 440.
How do I go back to 440 Hz?
Choose 440 Hz in the Reference A menu. Every tuner on the site follows the new value.