[Dixielandjazz] Re: A 440

[Hal Vickery]

I teach physics and can answer your question.  Middle C is not tuned to 440
Hz.  That would be the A above middle C.  Middle C is about 256 Hz or
something like that.

As for the Hz/cps thing, you are correct.  A Hertz (named after the
physicist Heinrich Hertz) is equal to one wave (cycle) per second.  As for
frequency, the Hertz or cycle per second is the *unit* used for measuring
frequency, not exactly the same thing as frequency itself, which would be
the number of waves passing by a point in a given second.

Hal Vickery

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Dan Augustine
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 5:08 PM
To: DJML
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: A 440

Bob and DJML--
     What?  Middle 'C' (whether on a piano or not) is customarily 
played at 440 cycles per second (or frequency), which is the same as 
440 Hz ('Hertz').   Aren't 'frequency', 'cps', and 'Hz' different 
terms for exactly the same thing?
     Or i'm not understanding you.  What's this number "261.63 Hz"?

     Dan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------
>From: "Robert Smith" <robert.smith at mitransport.no>
>Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] 1 Hz Hi Fi Woofer
>Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 21:03:13 +0100
>
>'Middle C' on the piano has a frequency (according to the present 
>standard) of 261.63 Hz, based on A=440. This is the fundamental 
>frequency, and the overtones are not standardised, thus allowing 
>piano manufacturers to generate their own timbre. This is the reason 
>some pianos are regarded as being better than others, and also being 
>the reason Victor Borge could say: "The Steinway people have asked 
>me to announce that this is a Bechstein piano".
>
>Cheers
>
>Bob Smith

-- 
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**
**  Dan Augustine  --  Austin, Texas  --  ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu
**      "Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?"     
**            -- Charlie McCarthy  (Edgar Bergen, 1903-1978)         
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**

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