It's a very simple adjustment for a stringed instrument at just a 1/3 of a semitone reduction in tension but a little more complex for instruments with a fixed geometry like brass, woodwind and bells etc. An orchestra tunes to the oboe mainly because the opposite is less practical (tuning the oboe).

Just trying to imagine the cost of changing all those affected instruments

[edit on 23/12/2007 by Pilgrum]

tuning down to 432...damn..everytime the sand formed a formation,
the tone REALLY resonated in my ears!!!!!!! that was VERY INTERESTING!!!!

Originally posted by Pilgrum
It's a very simple adjustment for a stringed instrument at just a 1/3 of a semitone reduction in tension but a little more complex for instruments with a fixed geometry like brass, woodwind and bells etc. An orchestra tunes to the oboe mainly because the opposite is less practical (tuning the oboe).

Just trying to imagine the cost of changing all those affected instruments

[edit on 23/12/2007 by Pilgrum]

Revolution is never an easy quest

Another thought - exactly how accurate could we expect the typical guitar tuning meter to be? IE is +/- 1/3 semitone a reasonable resolution considering they're mass produced and far from the realm of laboratory instruments (they have their limits of accuracy too). What I mean here is does an indication of A - 440Hz sine wave simply mean the signal is closer to A than it is to a semitone up or down - this would give a spread of +/- 12Hz around a true A - 440Hz which encompasses the suggested 432Hz target.

What I said earlier about the 1/12th root of 2 is significant because that determines the frequency of all semitones in the audible scale in relation to the note used for initial tuning. IE how often is the actual note 'A' 440Hz actually played in any piece of music and if the key used does not include a natural A then it may not be played at all in a given composition.

Just rambling - happy holidays to all

Originally posted by Maya432
if your resonant frequency is 440 then every note is in resonance with 440
or what ever resonant frequency you choose.

I'll agree - they all stayed related by the 12th root of 2

In relation to digital tuners, digital does not equate to accuracy unfortunately although it gives that illusion due the number of digits displayed. I've designed, built, repaired digital equipment and its weakness lies in several areas which introduce a spread or tolerance in the output. Consider how such a tuner or frequency meter operates IE it needs to sample the input which for a guitar is a sine wave and using a schmitt trigger stage turn that into a square wave suitable for the following stage. The leading (or trailing) edges can then be counted by a stage which uses a 'stable' reference window to determine the number of cycles per second. The reference window itself isn't necessarily 1 second in length and could be much shorter with the count being appropriately multiplied prior to display so any error there would be multiplied also. The accuracy of that sampling period is the biggest factor in overall accuracy and components, no matter how highly specified, have tolerances and even drift due to temperature variation.

Basicly any kind of analog-digital conversion has accuracy limits and 'nailing' the 432Hz target would not be as simple as you might think regardless of how many digits are displayed.

Maya432,

Very intresting tale you relate here. Resonance...yes....very intresting.

It is said in certain occult lore that sound and pitch have a natural ability to resonate and cause certain tasks to be done or accomplished.

I have heard tales of "The Voice".

Curious about something..since I dont know much about music.

Do certain frequencys also denote colours???

The pattern of which I know in occult lore and practice is that there are certain secrets that they do not want the outsiders to know. They are only for certain initiates and only for initiates of certain knowlege..not new initiates. Not for the Profane or those deemed not worthy to know this secret/secrets.

For example...the Egyptians had a cubit that they used to measure...but there was also a Royal Cubit..not known by the ordinary folk and kept secret only within royalty. YOu see ..it was a dual knowlege system. Similar to Gobbels. I think this still goes on today. This dual knowlege system.

Well hearing about this pitch alternative for some time, I decided to do some recording on a portable studio. A tuner onboard sets to A432 pitch. Tuning Guitar and Bass, I went for a metronome click track and tried "Mr. Tambourine Man," for starters. Adding the bass track later, I realized the sound was different, somehow more harmonic.

Strangely while I was doing it, I did not think I played very well, however upon listening objectively later it seems as it is stated here that there is some presence and ambiance that is just more musical. It feels better, and the distortion is not there as in the A440 version. It is easier to sing.

I will continue the experiment. Thanks for the suggestion. Besides it may sell well in Italy. Next step convert some other songs, or CDs with Cool Edit Pro under "effects," without compromising the recorded time. I may be interesting to hear a difference. It is probably much better to record in the proper pitch however.