Violin Tuner
Tune your violin two ways: let the microphone read each string with a live needle and cents readout, or tune by ear with clean reference tones. Violin GDAE, plus viola and cello — free, in your browser.
Instrument
Strings
Tap a string to hear its reference tone — no microphone needed.
Microphone tuner
Your microphone is analysed on your device only — nothing is uploaded, saved or recorded.
How the Violin Tuner works
This online violin tuner works two ways. Press Start microphone, bow or pluck a string, and it detects the pitch on your device, showing the nearest note in big type with a needle that swings toward sharp or flat; centre the needle and the note turns green when you are within a few cents. Prefer to tune by ear? Tap any string button to play a clean reference tone and match it — no microphone required. A violin is tuned in perfect fifths to G3 D4 A4 E5 with the A at 440 Hz; switch to Viola (CGDA) or Cello and the strings update for both methods. Everything runs client-side with the Web Audio API, so nothing is installed and your microphone audio is never uploaded or recorded. Keeping time next? Try the Metronome, or explore more Music Tools.
Open string frequencies
A violin is tuned in perfect fifths — each string is seven semitones above the last. The A string is the reference, set to exactly 440 Hz. All frequencies below are equal temperament referenced to A4 = 440 Hz.
| String | Note | Frequency | MIDI |
|---|---|---|---|
| G (lowest) | G3 | 196.00 Hz | 55 |
| D | D4 | 293.66 Hz | 62 |
| A | A4 | 440.00 Hz | 69 |
| E (highest) | E5 | 659.26 Hz | 76 |
Orchestras tune to the open A string. Note that a violin tuned in pure (just) fifths would place the E slightly higher than the 659.26 Hz shown here; this tuner targets equal temperament, which is the standard for playing with fretted or keyboard instruments.
Alternate tunings this tuner supports
| Tuning | Strings (as tuned) | Lowest pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Viola (CGDA) | C3 G3 D4 A4 | 130.81 Hz |
| Cello (CGDA) | C2 G2 D3 A3 | 65.41 Hz |
Should I use the pegs or the fine tuners?
Use the pegs for large corrections and the fine tuners for the last few cents. A peg moves the pitch a long way for a small turn, so it is the right tool when a string is well off, but it is hard to place precisely and can slip. The fine tuners on the tailpiece move the pitch only slightly per turn, which makes them ideal once the needle is already close to centre. Tune the A string to 440 Hz first, since it is the reference the other three are set against, then work outwards to D, G and E.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tune my violin with the microphone?
Pick an instrument (Violin is the default), press Start microphone and allow your browser to use the mic, then bow or pluck one string at a time. The tuner finds the pitch, shows the nearest note in large type, and swings a needle left or right. Turn the peg — or use the fine tuner — until the needle sits at the centre and the note turns green, which means you are within a few cents of being in tune. Work through all four strings this way.
What is standard violin tuning?
A violin is tuned in perfect fifths to G3, D4, A4 and E5, usually written GDAE from the lowest string. The A string is tuned to 440 Hz as the reference. A viola is tuned a fifth lower to C3, G3, D4, A4 (CGDA), and a cello is tuned an octave below the viola to C2, G2, D3, A3. This tuner includes all three.
Can I tune my violin without a microphone?
Yes — you can tune a violin by ear. Tap any string button to hear that exact pitch — for example the A string at 440 Hz — and match your string to the tone by ear. This needs no microphone and no permission, so it works on any device, and it is handy in noisy rooms where microphone detection struggles.
Is my microphone audio uploaded or recorded?
No — the violin tuner analyses the microphone stream live on your device with the Web Audio API and never uploads, saves or records it. Pitch detection runs entirely within the page, so no audio and no tuning data leaves your browser. Pressing Stop, or closing the tab, releases the microphone straight away.
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