Online Violin Tuner
Tune your violin right in the browser. Press Start, bow a string, and match it to pitch — or tap a string to hear its reference tone and tune by ear. Standard G D A E, tuned in perfect fifths.
Press Start and allow the microphone, or tap a string to hear its pitch.
How to tune a violin
An online violin tuner listens to each string through your microphone and tells you whether it is sharp or flat. Press Start, allow mic access, and bow one string at a time with a slow, steady stroke — a sustained tone reads far more reliably than a quick pluck. The big note shows which string you are nearest; the needle and the cents number show how far off you are. Tighten the string to raise the pitch, loosen it to lower it, until the reading sits at zero and turns green. No microphone? Tap any string on screen to hear its reference tone and match it by ear.
Tune the A first, then in fifths
Violin strings are G D A E — G3, D4, A4 and E5, low to high — tuned in perfect fifths. Start with the A string and bring it to A4 = 440 Hz, then tune the others against it: D a fifth below the A, G a fifth below the D, and E a fifth above the A. Use the pegs for big adjustments — press the peg gently inward as you turn so it holds — and the fine tuners on the tailpiece for the last few cents. The same G-D-A-E fifths run a fifth lower on the viola and cello, which tune C G D A.
Accurate and private
Pitch detection runs entirely on your device with the same autocorrelation engine as our chromatic tuner — nothing is uploaded. Fresh strings and newly moved pegs drift as they settle, so re-check after playing for a few minutes. When you want a tuner in your pocket, the free Tuner: Guitar, Violin & Bass app does the same on iOS. Also tuning a guitar, bass, or ukulele? We have a tuner for each.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune a violin?
Press Start and allow microphone access, then bow one string at a time with a slow, steady stroke. The tuner shows the nearest note and whether you are sharp or flat in cents; turn the peg or fine tuner until it reads zero and turns green. Start with the A string, then tune D, G and E against it in perfect fifths. You can also tap a string on screen to hear its reference pitch and tune by ear.
What notes is a violin tuned to?
A violin is tuned to G D A E — G3, D4, A4 and E5 from the lowest (thickest) string to the highest — with each pair a perfect fifth apart. The A is set to 440 Hz by default, and the other strings are tuned in fifths from there.
Which string do I tune first?
Tune the A string first and set it to A4 = 440 Hz, since it is the common reference. Then tune D a fifth below the A, G a fifth below the D, and E a fifth above the A, checking each against the tuner until it reads in tune.
Can I tune a viola or cello with this?
Yes. Viola and cello are tuned C G D A — a fifth lower than the violin's G D A E. Bow each string and match it to the note the tuner shows: bring the C, G, D and A strings to pitch one at a time, and the perfect fifths will fall into place.
Does the violin tuner use my microphone?
Yes. It listens through your device's microphone and analyzes the pitch entirely on your device — no audio is uploaded or stored. If you prefer, you can tune by ear using the on-screen reference tones without the microphone.
Prefer a tuner in your pocket?
Tuner: Guitar, Violin & Bass is free on iOS — the screen turns green when you're in tune.