Concert Pitch
The internationally agreed standard tuning reference where A above middle C vibrates at 440 Hz.
Category
pitch
Pronunciation
/ˈkɒnsət pɪtʃ/
Origin
English / Italian
Length
148 words · 1 min read
About Concert Pitch
Concert pitch establishes a universal reference point so that instruments across the world can play together in tune. The modern standard of A4 = 440 Hz was adopted by the International Organisation for Standardisation in 1955, though orchestras in different cities still vary slightly — Vienna often tunes closer to 443 Hz, whilst some period-instrument ensembles drop to 415 Hz to replicate Baroque conditions.
More pitch terms
Frequency
View all pitchterms →The number of sound-wave vibrations per second, measured in hertz, that determines how high or low a pitch sounds.
FlatAn accidental that lowers the pitch of a note by one semitone.
IntonationThe accuracy with which a performer produces the correct pitch of each note.
CentsA logarithmic unit that divides each semitone into 100 equal parts, used for precise measurement of pitch intervals.
FundamentalThe lowest frequency in a harmonic series, perceived as the main pitch of a note.
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →