Which Sounds Better 440Hz vs 432Hz?

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[shaneofgames]

The parts are played slight different so it makes it tough to pick. I like the melody part played in 432, but the chord at the end sounded better in 440

[gibbethoskins]

432 is so much warmer and pleasing to me in this comparison

[leaveitorsinkit]

There’s literally no magic here. The reason why most people _prefer_ 432 over 440 is because one has been tuned down relative to the other. It’s the same reason people like _slowed + reverb_ renditions of their favourite songs…

[leizaj]

The second one (432) is my personal favorite, it sounds... Nostalgic... Kinda lo-fi vibe Anyways, both sounds amazing and wonderful, such a nice melody to listen to

[nuffim]

For those of you wondering, this is an excerpt from his song "Orb", I highly recomend you check it out.

(I am on team 432hz btw)

[Codebreakerblue]

It's fascinating how the direct comparison gives such different vibes despite the notes being nearly identical

[MadKingRALM]

432 sounded much more melancholic to me, whereas 440 feels more like a happy kind of sad. Like at the end of a movie when there's a "tearful reunion"

[NealBrewer]

The harmonics on 432 hz sound so much warmer and expansive to me.

[soyokoyo]

it really doesn't matter when you're playing, both sounds amazing

[ZLLoVeR]

I’m surprised at how many people preferred 432 over 440 😂 Neither sounded “wrong” but 440 is what my ear recognizes as home… 432 sounds out of place and therefore perks my ears up. It’s refreshing

[Aethrin]

440 sounded like enjoying a memory of sunshine and simple moments with a loved one. 432 sounded like reminiscing about a similar memory but with a slight sad twinge, like remembering the same day except the loved one is now gone.

[claudevieaul]

It does make a difference if you use the same strings.
One reason I've seen for raising pitch in orchestras over the years is that they sound better - particularly stringed instruments: you get more harmonics.

It fairly easy to check for yourself:
Take a 12 string acoustic, tune to 440, and put a capo on the 2nd fret.
Play a piece and record that.
Then tune the same guitar to 415 (which sounds as a half step lower), put the capo on the third fret, and play the same piece.

You'll definitely hear the difference in how the strings behave and respond.

Pitching ever higher has the obvious drawback that the tension goes up too - which will, in acoustic instruments, cause issues over time.

[FAIRWEATHER_MUSIC]

Love this idea! I've never played with 432. Quite the shock to the ears at first but it's nice. I can't decide though! Record your albums again in 432 and I'll think about it then :P

[whiteven]

beautiful playing sir, the 432hz was more to my taste if i am being honest

[elblekqet]

432. I normally tune this way. I like the sound and feel

[calebmunkirs]

As long as the intonation and intervals are the same across it makes a negligible difference. The only thing that does change is how the frequencies respond so some notes will be slightly more shrill and others will have even more of a round low end or be too low to properly resonate

[kawashinimon]

I like 432hz more. It's subtle but it gives it just enough of a more.. full? sound.

[capacityseveneightseven]

As classical musician hearing the 432hz open strings makes me feel like something is out of tune.

[mohammadtariq]

I honestly loved both of them, you are such an incredibly talented player. If I really had to pick one, I would say the 432 because listening to that felt like more of the highs were amplified and that heartpiercing melody just sinks in!

[aidanvandera]

I think that this is the first time I’m realizing that my ears are pretty much tuned to 440hz? The 432hz sounded really good still but like it had a slightly desolate tone somehow. It was warmer, more heartfelt in tone but I think I also felt like it was out of tune which doesn’t make sense given how little difference there really is and the fact that it’s really still A. Idk, if it weren’t for side by side I probably wouldn’t have seen such a big difference but now I’m curious if that’s the secret to why some game music really feels more like despair in Dark Souls for instance (not that it’s in 432hz or anything, but I could see that being a reason for the music feeling even more like it does aside from the composition alone.)