The Curious Concert Pitch Conflict Part Two: A Scientific Perspective

Many musicians and vocalists claim that a particular concert pitch is natural or that they can hear more pleasing tones and feel an emotional difference in comparison with other concert pitches. However, science deals with empirical evidence and, setting aside a musician’s emotional response to a particular concert pitch, the question arises: Is there a scientific foundation that underpins one particular concert pitch as having greater benefits both biologically and physiologically? This article examines this question and sections include, the base 10 numbering system, the second as a measurement of time and sound frequency, Tartini tones, and the effects of music on human blood. Immersing ourselves in music of moderate sound level appears to provide health benefits, regardless of our choice of concert pitch, and no evidence was found that one particular concert pitch is more natural than any other, regardless of its arithmetic elegance.