Equal Temperament

  1. Tune A4 to fork. The number 4 indicates notes in the octave above middle C4.
  2. Tune A3 to A4. The number 3 indicates notes in the octave below middle C4.
  3. Tune F3 to A3 making a wide 3rd with 7 beats per second.
  4. Tune C4 to F3 making a narrow 5th beating ½ beat per second.
  5. Tune D4 to A3 making a wide 4th beating 1 beat per second.
  6. Tune G3 to C4 and D4. Make a wide G3C4 4th and a narrow G3D4 5th.
  7. Tune E4 making a narrow A3E4 5th. The C4E4 3rd should beat around 10 beats per second.
  8. Tune B3 making a wide B3E4 4th. The G3B3 3rd should beat around 8 beats per second.
  9. Tune C3 to C4 making a good octave with a wide C3F3 4th and a narrow C3G3 5th.
  10. Tune D3 to D4 making a good octave with a wide D3G3 4th and a narrow D3A3 5th.
  11. Tune E3 to E4 making a good octave with a wide E3A3 4th and a narrow E3B3 5th. The C3E3 3rd should beat 5 beats per second.
  12. Tune F#3 making a wide F#3B3 4th. The D3F#3 3rd should beat 6 beats per second.
  13. Tune G#3 making E3G#3 beat 6½ beats per second and Ab3C4 beat 8½ beats per second.
  14. Tune Bb3 making a wide F3Bb3 4th. F#3A#3 beats 7½ beats per second and Bb3D4 beats 9½ beats per second.
  15. Tune C#4 making a wide G#3C#4 4th and a narrow F#3C#4 5th.
  16. Tune Eb4 making a wide Bb3Eb4 4th and a narrow Ab3Eb4 5th.
  17. Tune F4,F#4,G4,G#4 etc. checking 4ths,5ths and octaves.
  18. Tune Eb3,C#3,B2,Bb2 etc. checking 3rds, 4ths, 5ths and octaves

    The results are twelve equal tempered 5ths. Equal tempered 5ths are narrow by ½ beat per second. Equal tempered 4ths are wide by 1 beat per second. 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths should beat faster going up and slower going down.

    F = C = G = D = A = E = B = F# = C# = G# = Eb = Bb = F

    Cents and Frequency table

    for Equal Temperament

    -------------------------------------------------------

    Tuning and Temperaments     Early Music Institute     School of Music     IU Bloomington    

    I welcome any comments or suggestions, email me at psloffer@indiana.edu

    Copyright © Phil Sloffer
    All Rights Reserved