French pitch

music

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July 23, 2026

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French pitch, also known as diapason normal, was a standard pitch adopted by the French government in 1859. It established the note A above middle C as having a frequency of 435 vibrations per second. This standard was also referred to as international pitch or low pitch.1

In music, pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a sound, determined by the frequency of the sound waves. Before the mid-19th century, a variety of pitches were used, leading to tuning difficulties. The adoption of French pitch was a step towards international agreement on a standard. While the current international standard is A=440 Hz, the French pitch of A=435 Hz was influential in standardizing musical tuning.2

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pitch
…the United States as “French pitch” or “international pitch”) at a′ = 435. England, in 1896, adopted the “New Philharmonic Pitch” at a′ = 439 and, in 1939, adopted the U.S. standard pitch of a′ = 440. In the mid-20th century, pitch again tended to creep upward as some…
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…the United States as “French pitch” or “international pitch”) at a′ = 435. England, in 1896, adopted the “New Philharmonic Pitch” at a′ = 439 and, in 1939, adopted the U.S. standard pitch of a′ = 440. In the mid-20th century, pitch again tended to creep upward as some…
Read More