Why Is Music Standardized to 440 Hertz Instead of 432 Hz?

The music we listen to today is standardized around the frequency of 440 Hertz. Before it became the norm, music was based on many different frequencies, some of which, such as 432 Hz, were believed to possess special powers, giving rise to numerous conspiracy theories.

Music has been standardized at 440 Hertz since 1939, when the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations adopted a reference pitch based on this frequency. In January 1975, it became the ISO 16:1975 standard, making it the reference pitch used in music conservatories around the world.

Conspiracy Theories

Since 440 Hertz was the tuning standard used in Germany, and therefore by the Nazi regime, it has become fertile ground for conspiracy theories. According to some claims, the adoption of this standard allowed the Nazis to impose their vision of music on the rest of the world.

Before its adoption, 440 Hz competed with 432 Hz, a frequency supported by both France and Italy as a potential international standard. The composer Giuseppe Verdi was particularly attached to this tuning and even pushed for it to become the official Italian standard.

According to some conspiracy theories, 432 Hertz possesses special properties. The website esprit-science-metaphysique.com describes it as:

"The tuning that vibrates with the golden ratio of the universe, PHI, and unifies the properties of light, time, space, matter, gravity, and magnetism with biology, DNA coding, and consciousness. When our atoms and DNA begin resonating in harmony with nature's spiral pattern, our sense of connection to nature is said to be enhanced. The number 432 is also reflected in the proportions of the Sun, Earth, Moon, the precession of the equinoxes, the Great Pyramid of Egypt, Stonehenge, the Sri Yantra, and many other sacred sites."

Different Frequencies Throughout History

In the 16th century, a tuning pitch of 466 Hertz was commonly used.

For Venetian Baroque composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, 440 Hertz was commonly employed. In German Baroque music, including the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, a tuning of 415 Hz was often used.

French composers such as François Couperin, Marin Marais, and Marc-Antoine Charpentier preferred a lower pitch of 392 Hertz.

With the democratization and globalization of music, it became increasingly necessary to standardize tuning in order to save time when tuning instruments and performing with musicians from different regions. Standardization also enabled the musical instrument industry to work from the same specifications across different countries.

If you would like to learn more about this topic, we recommend reading "Le son des vibrations : influence des sons et de la musique sur la santé et le développement personnel" by Emmanuel Comte.