Standard tuning C G D A · a fifth below the violin
Viola tuner
Bow or pluck one open string at a time and see which note it is, and how many cents sharp or flat. Tap a string to hear its note and tune by ear. Standard tuning, C G D A, a fifth below the violin.
How to use it
- Tap Listen and allow the microphone. Bow one open string with a long, even stroke, or pluck it: the tuner names the note and shows how far off it is.
- Turn the fine tuner, if that string has one, until the needle sits in the middle and it says In tune; otherwise, or when the fine tuner can't reach, use the peg. Tap a string to hear its note, if you'd rather tune by ear.
Standard viola tuning
A viola is tuned in fifths: C, G, D and A, from the lowest string. Its top three strings are the violin's bottom three, G, D and A, and its C is an octave above the cello's. Viola music is mostly written in the alto clef, where the middle line is middle C.
| String | Note | Hz at A440 |
|---|---|---|
| C (lowest) | C3 | 130.81 |
| G | G3 | 196.00 |
| D | D4 | 293.66 |
| A (highest) | A4 | 440.00 |
Tuning a viola in fifths
Tune the A first, to the tuner or the group's A. Bow the A and D strings together and turn the D until the fifth rings, with no wobble; then D with G, and G with C.
By ear, each fifth comes out pure, 2 cents (a cent is a hundredth of a semitone) wider than a piano's, so the C ends up about 6 cents below a piano's C. When you play with a piano, tune the C with the tuner.
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Questions
What are the notes of a viola's strings?
C, G, D and A, from the lowest: C3, G3, D4 and A4. Each string is a fifth above the one below it.
How is a viola tuned compared with a violin?
A fifth lower. A violin is G D A E and a viola C G D A, so they share the G, D and A strings; the viola has a low C where the violin has a high E.
Which viola string should I tune first?
The A, because it's the note an orchestra tunes to. Then tune the D, G and C, each against the string above it.
Can I tune a violin or cello here?
Yes. Open Settings and pick Violin or Cello, or go to the violin tuner or cello tuner.
Is my playing recorded?
No. The microphone opens only when you tap Listen, your viola's pitch is worked out on this device, and nothing is recorded, kept or sent.
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