Free online violin tuner

Easy to Use. Just mouse-over any tuning peg or string and click. For best results be sure the volume is up on your computer as well as your speakers.

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Our free online violin tuner and free online fiddle tuner is a great tool to help you learn how to tune your violin or how to tune your fiddle. The Fretless Finger Guide® on a properly tuned violin or fiddle will help you develop a good ear for recognizing the tone of the whole notes, sharps and flats.

Tuning your violin and tuning your fiddle is one of the most important things for a beginning student to learn to do, and the first step to successful violin or fiddle playing. If your violin is out of tune, you will never sound good, no matter how great a player you are. Our free online violin tuner is a great tool to help you learn proper tuning and to train your ear to perceive true pitch. If you are new to tuning your violin or tuning your fiddle please read carefully the following. It is possible to harm your instrument by not properly tuning it. The following is intended to help you minimize the opportunity to harm your instrument.

Tuning your violin is a process that takes time to learn, but gets easier with practice. You have to develop an "ear" for the right tone. If you play a note and it just doesn't sound quite right you may be out of tune and you will need to "tune up". You will soon become familiar with the tones of what "sharp" and  "flat" sound like, in addition to what "in tune" sounds like. A good way to learn how to tune your violin or tune your fiddle is to play around with the strings. Start with one string ... tuning it to pitch ... then raise the pitch and listening to what "sharp" sounds like. Now lower the pitch back to "in tune".  Then lower the pitch, and listening to what "flat" sounds like. This will help you learn to tune your violin by ear. Try this exercise with all the strings. If you do this frequently, you will soon become proficient at tuning your violin.

How to hold your instrument for tuning:

•    Rest the violin comfortably on the shoulder, with the left hand under the neck, where the neck joins the body. In this position the  violin will feel light and balanced. You won't have to excessively tilt your neck. If you do, consider a shoulder pad.

To tune a violin, you will need to have one of the following:
•     Our free online tuner.
•     A chromatic (electronic) or violin tuner. These can be found online or from your local music store.
•    A keyboard or a tuned piano (for reference while tuning)
•    A violin teacher or musician that has a "trained ear".

There are two different ways to tune a violin: tuning pegs and fine tuners (string adjusters). The tuning pegs are in the head stock of the instrument. The fine tuners are at the base of the instrument at the foot. Tuning pegs are used for tuning when the string is at least a half note out of tune. String adjusters or fine tuners are used when the string is less than a half note out of tune. Fine tuners' tuning range is considerably less than the tuning pegs. Remember that the E string is the most fragile and requires great care during tuning.

If three or more strings are very out of tune:

You need to take extra care while tuning if three or more strings are very far out of tune. Follow the instructions to minimize any potential harm to your instrument.  

1.     Slowly and gradually tighten each string starting with G, then D-A-E. The reason for starting from the G-string is to prevent damaging the thinner A and E strings.
2.    Tighten only one or two notes higher, on one string, at a time. Then tighten the next one, one or two notes higher. Don't tighten one string all the way to the desired pitch and leave the other strings very loose. This can create unequal pressure on the bridge causing it to fail. Instead, tighten each string one or two notes at a time.
3. Tuning may cause enough movement of the strings to sway the bridge. It is important to make sure the bridge stays perpendicular to the top of the violin while being tuned. It is important that the bridge stay completely straight, particularly at the point where it makes contact with the strings. If the bridge has become tilted, carefully straighten it back up. The bridge on a violin is neither glued nor screwed onto the instrument. It is only the tension from the 4 strings that keeps the bridge in its proper position and in place.
4.    To keep the tuning pegs from slipping, you will need to apply inward pressure on the tuning pegs toward the violin head as you turn the tuning peg. Tuning pegs are tapered, so the inward pressure will ensure that they stay in position when released. .
5.    Once you are within a half note of the desired pitch, you can use the fine tuners at the "foot" of the strings to further adjust each string.

If you cannot tighten a fine tuner any more:
To "re-set" the fine tuners, loosen the fine tuner half way. Bring the string closer to the pitch by using the tuning peg. Then use the fine tuner again for the final adjustment. Be careful, sometimes the design of certain fine tuners, that are tightened all the way, can dent the violin top because the space between the violin top and the fine tuners is too small.

If your strings are only slightly out of tune:
You may be able to tune the strings with just the fine tuners. However, you should always check to make sure the fine tuners are not "bottomed out" and that the bridge is still straight during and after tuning.

You should always follow the instructions above to minimize the chance of harm to your instrument and to get the most out of your instruments tonal qualities.