Anyone tuning to A432 rather than A440?

[cjd-player]

About 9 months ago I started learning about some of the issues regarding using 432Hz rather than 440Hz as the Concert Pitch "A".   I was intrigued and gave it a try.

So for playing alone, I've been tuning my guitars to A432 rather than A440 for about six months.  To me, they just sound better.  Period.

If you Google A432, there are lots of articles, some saying that we should go back to 432 as "Concert"Pitch", and some arguing that it is a natural frequency.

For example: http://www.omega432.com/music.html

I don't know about all that, but I do know that I like the sound of my guitars better at A432.

Has anyone else tried A432?

[not darth]

So, excuse my ignorance, but to you also tune down the other 5 strings to be in sync with the 432Hz A? 
Thanks, -K

[cjd-player]

Yes.

But much easier if you have an electronic tuner that can adjust the reference frequency.  You just adjust the tuner  from 440 to 432 then tune as usual.

Here is another article: http://lucafrancioso.fingerpicking.net/432hz-natural-tuning/?lang=en

[not darth]

Thanks for the info.
I have a handheld Korg CA-30  tuner that I've had for years, and it has a "calib" function where you can adjust the target frequency (440) up or down by whole number steps (439, 438, 437....).
But, I don't usually use that as I have two tuners on my Android phone, UltimateGuitar Tab's app has a tuner, and so does the Gstrings app.  I just checked and lo and behold you can adjust those even finer, by tenths of a Hertz. 

BTW, if you've never tried gstrings, the basic app is free and it works very very well. 

-K

[Edward]

FWIW, I have found certain guitars seem to sound better tuned down a half step, and when I owned her I used to tune my 655 down a full step.   So how does A432 translate to notes?  Half step down, whole step?  Partial??

Edward

[cjd-player]

It is less than a half step.

What amazes me is the fullness of the sound at 432.  If you go to the Qmega432 link in my first post and listen to the samples at the right of the page you'll hear what I mean.  You fell the music in your chest- - you don't just hear it with your head - and its got nothing to do with volume.

[not darth]

This is a really intriguing topic!

I've got a mediocre (mmm, that may be too much of a compliment) Norma acoustic that has a high action and really doesn't sound great in Std tuning, just, boring. 
But lately I've been messing around with alt tunings and right now it's in open D, and I can't believe how full and complex it sounds now, plus the playability has increased to the point of nearly pleasant. 
I'm sure it's the decreased tension that makes for the improved feel, but I'm not sure why it sounds so much better in open D than when you play a major D chord in Std tuning. 
Maybe the lower frequencies approach the natural resonance of the laminate box (I'm assuming it's all-lam)?

Maybe I'll tune it up to Std432 and take a listen.
Thanks!
-K

[S MS Picker]

I'm working up a mandolin part for a friend's  original instrumental.It's in 432.Sounds great there. So does my Breedlove mando.
Give it a listen.http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11363553     Kewannee Free by James Beau Edwards.
I don't know how to make the link click friendly.Just copy& paste.
Steve

[S MS Picker]

It did it on it's own!!! Cool.

[Jannie]

Just tried 432 with my GC3 and it sounded like the strings hated each other, as if they were all playing in different orchastras- weird.

[twowheel]

Interesting idea.  I had never paid any attention to this, just tuning to 440 all the time. Your post made me read some and try it.  I have a GS mini I have played for over a year, every day.  I finally settled on John Pearse medium phosphor bronze strings to give the mini the best tone. I tried tuning it down to 432 after reading this post. Wow! The Mini likes it.  I like it.  The last few days I have switched back and forth during my practice sessions. 440 might be better for strumming the mini with a pick.  The pick produces nice clear notes in the chord.  But for fingerstyle and hybrid picking the 432 tuning seems to give the mini more voice.  I can feel it in my lap more and the sound seems to surround me more.  440 seems to put the sound out in front of me and the guitar.  At this point I like the idea that this tuning gives me another tool to change the sound of the little guitar.  Thanks for the post.
Twowheel

[jalbert]

I don't know about all that

That article was something else...

I'll offer an opinion: A432 sounds "better" because it's different than what our brains are used to. I'm too lazy to try it myself, but I wonder if you'd have the same kind of effect tuning A448. The string tension would be higher, of course. For the record I tune one of my guitars down a half step and it sounds better. But I think that's specific to that guitar and has nothing to do with the ideas put forth in that article.