Violin Tuner

Click on a violin string or peg to hear the correct tuning note for that string. Click again to stop the tuning note.

How to tune a violin

Preperation:

Start by holding the neck of the violin (the area near the tuning pegs) with the strings facing you, resting the bottom end (the end with the chin rest) of the violin on your lap. It's usually easiest if you are sitting down. You will be using the interactive tuning diagram above to hear the correct note for each string. Just click on the string or peg to play the note for that string, and click again to stop the note. As you hover your mouse over a string you will also see that string change color, along with the tuning peg you should use to tune that string.

Step 1 - How to tune the violin's A string

The A string is the 3rd string from the left, and you will use the top tuning peg on the right side to tune it. Start by clicking the string in the tuning diagram above, then pluck the A string on your violin to hear the difference. Turn your tuning peg so that the sound from your string is slightly lower than the note you hear from the tuning diagram (you may have to pluck the string and turn the peg several times). Then slowly turn the peg so that the sound from your string gets higher, until it matches what you hear from the tuning diagram. [If your violin has fine adjusters (a small metal tuning screw) at the end of the string near the chin-rest, you can turn it to fine-tune until the note sounds just right.]

Step 2 - How to tune the violin's D string

The D string is the 2nd string from the left, and you will use the top tuning peg on the left side to tune it. Start by clicking D string (second from left) in the tuning diagram, then pluck the D string of your violin to hear the difference. Turn your tuning peg so that the note you hear is slightly lower than the note you hear from the tuning diagram. Then slowly turn the peg so that the sound from your string gets higher until it matches the note you hear from the diagram. [If your violin has fine adjusters (a small metal tuning screw) at the end of the string near the chin-rest, you can turn it to fine-tune until the note sounds just right.]

Step 3 - How to tune the violin's G string

The G string is the 1st string from the left, and you will use the bottom tuning peg on the left side to tune it. Start by clicking the corresponding string in the interactive diagram, then pluck the G string of your violin to hear the difference. Turn the tuning peg for that string so that the note is slightly lower than the note you hear from the interactive violin tuner. Then slowly turn the peg so that the sound from your string matches the note you hear from the tuner. [If your violin has fine adjusters (a small metal tuning screw) at the end of the string near the chin-rest, you can turn it to fine-tune until the note sounds just right.]

Step 4 - How to tune the violin's E string

The E string is the 4th (and last) string from the left, and you will use the bottom tuning peg on the right side to tune it. Start by clicking the E string in the interactive tuner, then pluck the E string of your violin to hear the difference. Turn the tuning peg for that string so that the note is slightly lower than the note you hear from the interactive tuner. Then slowly turn the peg so that the sound from your string matches the note you hear from the online violin tuner. [If your violin has fine adjusters (a small metal tuning screw) at the end of the string near the chin-rest, you can turn it to fine-tune until the note sounds just right.]

Now you can check all your strings and fine-tune as needed.

Notes:

What to do if your tuning peg keeps slipping?

Just hold the violin at the neck close to the tuning pegs, bug on the side oposite from the peg that is slipping. Push firmly but gently with your hand while pushing the peg with your other hand and twisting the peg back and forth as you twist it deeper into the peg-hole.

Why do we 'tune-up' from slightly below the correct note?

Because of the way the strings hold tension, they are less likely to go out of tune. Some people also think it's a bit easier to tune-up then to tune-down.

Why do we tune the strings in this order? In what order should violin strings be tuned?

We tune in the order of A, D, G, E (3rd string, 2nd string, 1st string, 4th string) because it keeps the lateral tension of the strings relative to each other more balanced. This way the strings you have already tuned are more likely to stay in tune while you finish tuning the other strings.