How to tune a violin
Using a Chromatic Tuner?

A chromatic tuner, also called an electronic tuner, is a good tool to tune your violin. If you are starting to learn how to tune a violin yourself, it is best recommended to start with this tuner, simply because it is electronic!

We will be guiding you through the essential steps in tuning your violin. These steps will help in using most of the electronic tuners in the market. Here, we will recommend Korg CA-30 Solo Chromatic Tuner. It's easy to use and reasonably priced.

Alright, let's start tuning!

1. Find a Suitable Place.

Find a quiet place. If you are playing in an orchestra, leave for a moment to tune your violin, and return after violin tuning.

2. Get your tuner ready.

Make sure your tuner is set to A440. It is 440Hz tone that serves as the standard musical pitch. A440 is the musical note A above middle C. Most tuners will reset to A440 by switching it on and off.

3. Tune your violin!

Look at the screen of the tuner above. Notice the '0' at the center of the scale? That's the point we want our notes to get to!

Steps to tune a string:

• Place your violin near the mic of the chromatic tuner.
• Play a long open-string with your bow. While playing, look at the screen and notice the pointer.
• Know the note you are playing and notice the letter displayed on the screen.(Tuner above shows C#).
• For instance, if you are playing D string, and tuner shows B-flat, it means you are 4 semitones out of tune. Hence, you have to tune more to get back to D.

• The pointer will move to the left or right, and red lights will be lit up too. Your job is to tune until the needle points to '0', green light shown.

  *Note: The tuner doesn't show which string you are playing. It only shows which note you are playing from your violin. Hence, you have to know which note you are tuning your string to.

• Turn the corresponding peg of the string slowly. Turn away from you if you need to 'sharpen' the string, or turn it towards you if you need to 'flatten' the string.
• Every time you turn the peg, check it with the chromatic tuner if the green light is 'lighted'. If yes, your string is in tune.

4. Repeat these steps on other strings.

Reminders:

• Play a note very slowly. This allows the tuner to register your note more accurately.
• Play only a string at a time. Chromatic tuners doesn't display multiple notes.
• You still have to use your ear to listen, even if you are using the electronic tuner. Your tuner may not be 100% accurate all the time.

So you have learned how to tune a violin using a chromatic tuner.How about learning how to tune with a piano or keyboard or how to tune your violin Online?