Free violin tuner, G, D, A and E reference tones

Violin open strings, low to high

The violin A string is A4: 440 Hz at the standard setting. The E string is E5, approximately 659.26 Hz. The octave number matters; matching the letter E alone is not enough.

Frequencies below use equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz and are rounded to two decimal places. Advanced settings shift all reference tones to A442 or A415. Follow your ensemble’s agreed pitch; these readings do not replace listening or instrument-specific advice.

Tune your violin, step by step

1. Establish the violin A

   Leave the reference at A440 unless your teacher or ensemble specifies another pitch. Play the A reference tone, let it finish, then sound your open A string without a finger on the fingerboard.

2. Take a steady reading

   Select Start tuning and allow microphone access if you want a meter reading. Bow only A, or pluck and listen before the sound fades. Confirm A4 before reading the cents display.

3. Check D and G, then approach E carefully

   Compare D4 and G3 with their reference tones. Finish with E5. Make small corrections using a fine tuner where fitted; get help with unfamiliar pegs or a large pitch difference.

4. Listen across the strings

   Recheck A after the other strings. If you can bow adjacent strings comfortably, compare G–D, D–A and A–E. The meter gives an equal-tempered reference; ensemble listening remains a separate skill.

The violin E string needs a light touch

The E is the highest violin string and is easy to confuse with a high overtone from another string. Identify the physical string before adjusting anything. If the display says E6 while you expect E5, do not try to reach that octave by tightening. Stop and compare the reference sound.

A fine tuner is useful for a small correction, but its screw has a limited travel. Do not force it when it reaches a stop. A peg that slips or resists turning needs help from a teacher or repairer; repeated tightening is not a solution to a slipping peg.

Separate tuning from first-finger intonation

Begin with all four open strings, with the left hand clear of the string. A stopped A played on the D string is useful later as a listening comparison, but it cannot establish whether the open A string itself is in tune. After tuning, play a slow open-string crossing pattern before adding fingers.

A fractional violin normally keeps the same G3–D4–A4–E5 tuning. Its shorter string length does not mean choosing a lower octave in this tuner. Follow your teacher’s setup if you use an unusual instrument or deliberately altered tuning.

Questions about violin tuning

What order are the violin strings in?

From low to high they are G3, D4, A4 and E5. Players number them in the opposite direction: E is the first string, A second, D third and G fourth.

Why does my violin tuner say A4 instead of A?

The 4 identifies the octave in scientific pitch notation. A4 is the open violin A at 440 Hz when the reference is A440. A3 is an octave lower and is not the target for that string.

Can I tune a violin without a microphone?

Yes. Each open-string button plays a reference tone without microphone permission. Listen to the reference, let it finish, and compare your open string. The visual pitch meter requires a microphone.

Is A415 appropriate for every violin?

No. A415 is a lower reference that some period-performance setups use. Do not change your instrument’s setup just because the option exists. Use the reference agreed with your teacher or ensemble and suitable strings.