What is a tuner?
A tuner is a device that detects a note’s pitch when played on a musical instrument, and compares it to the desired pitch. The tuner indicates whether the note is too high, too low, or in tune, helping musicians tune their instruments easily.
It's most common to use a tuner for string instruments such as guitars and violins. Over time, the strings loosen, and the instruments need to be tuned to maintain optimal sound. Most tuners are “chromatic tuners” and detect all 12 distinct notes.
Using the online tuner
To tune your instrument, click the green microphone button. You will be asked to allow access to your device’s microphone so the tuner can hear what you play. As you play a note on your instrument, adjust the pitch until the tuner indicates the note is in tune.
You can use a tuner for all musical instruments. Below is a list of common instruments and their tuning. The notes are written from lowest to highest, except for the ukulele and banjo that don't have strings ordered by pitch.
- Guitar: E A D G B E
- Bass guitar: E A D G
- Ukulele: G C E A
- Banjo: G D G B D
- Mandolin: G G D D A A E E
- Violin: G D A E
- Viola: C G D A
- Cello: C G D A
- Double bass: E A D G
Notice the list above only shows the most common tuning for each instrument. In rare cases, other tunings are used. The indicated guitar tuning applies to classical guitar, steel-string acoustic guitar, and electric guitar.