Standard tuning G D A E · viola and cello in Settings
Violin tuner
Play 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. Viola and cello are a tap away in Settings.
How to use it
- Tap Listen and allow the microphone. Pluck or bow one open string with a long, even stroke: the tuner names the note and shows how far off it is.
- Turn the fine tuner until the needle sits in the middle and it says In tune. Use the peg only when the fine tuner can't reach. Tap a string to hear its note, if you'd rather tune by ear.
Standard violin, viola and cello tuning
A violin is tuned in fifths: G, D, A and E, from the lowest string. A viola is a fifth lower, C, G, D, A, and a cello is an octave below the viola. Orchestras tune to the oboe's A, some a little higher, at 442 or 443 Hz: set the reference under More.
| Instrument | Strings, low to high | Hz at A440 |
|---|---|---|
| Violin | G3 D4 A4 E5 | 196.00, 293.66, 440.00, 659.26 |
| Viola | C3 G3 D4 A4 | 130.81, 196.00, 293.66, 440.00 |
| Cello | C2 G2 D3 A3 | 65.41, 98.00, 146.83, 220.00 |
Tuning by fifths
Tune the A first, then play two neighbouring strings together and listen: a pure fifth rings, with no wobble. A tuner measures the piano's equal temperament, whose fifths are 2 cents narrower than pure ones, so many players tune the A with a tuner and the other strings by ear against it.
Pegs and fine tuners
Fine tuners, the small screws on the tailpiece, are for changes of a few cents. Use a peg when a string is further off, pushing it gently in as you turn so it holds. Go slowly with the E string: it is thin, and snaps if it's tuned too high.
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Questions
What are the notes of a violin's strings?
G, D, A and E, from the lowest: G3, D4, A4 and E5. Each string is a fifth above the one below it.
Which violin string should I tune first?
The A, because it's the note orchestras tune to. Then tune the D, G and E, each against the A or its neighbour.
Can I tune a viola or cello here?
Yes. Open Settings and pick Viola (C, G, D, A, a fifth below the violin) or Cello (C, G, D, A, an octave below the viola).
Should I tune my violin to 440 or 442?
Use what your group uses. A440 is the standard; many orchestras tune a little higher, often to 442. Set it under More.
Why does the needle jump when I bow?
A bowed note starts with a scratchy attack. Play a long, even bow at a medium speed and read it once the note has settled, or pluck the string instead.
Why does my violin go out of tune?
Changes in temperature and humidity move the pegs and strings, and new strings stretch for their first days. Check the tuning each time you play.
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