Learning how to tune a violin is essential for beginner violinists. Below, experienced violin teacher Naomi Cherie S. provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to tune a violin properly…
In video above, I’ll be taking you through how to tune a violin. Eventually you’ll want to learn how to tune a violin by ear. Tuning a violin by ear, however, can take years of practice.
So in the beginning stages of your development, it’s nice to learn how to use a violin tuner to help you keep your violin in tune.
What You’ll Need to Tune a Violin
You’ll need a chromatic tuner, which you can find at any local music shop. These tuners usually run anywhere from $30 to $40. There are also free versions online.
If you have access to a smartphone, you can also download a tuning app for free or cheap. Just search for “violin tuner” or “chromatic tuner” in your app store. In the video above, I’ll be using the tuning app on my smartphone.
How a Violin Tuner Works
Every violin tuner is slightly different, but they are all usually pretty easy to work with after a little getting used to.
Generally, there will be a display that tells you what note you’re playing and a needle hovering over a dial in the middle that will show you how in tune your string is.
You want that needle to be as close to the center point as possible. Most violin tuners light up green when the string is in tune.
If the needle is hovering over to the right of the dial your string is “sharp,” which means it’s too high or tight. If it’s hovering over to the left of the dial your string is “flat,” which means it’s too low or loose.
How to Tune a Violin Use Violin Pegs
On the violin we have pegs and fine tuners. The pegs are used for when your instrument is really out of tune and the fine tuners are used for when it’s just slightly out of tune.
When you’re just learning how to tune a violin, it’s easiest to avoid using the pegs, as they can be very hard to work with. It’s best to get a violin teacher or someone at a violin shop to set your pegs for you.
Normally, the pegs should stay in place most of the time unless they get bumped or your violin is exposed to extreme temperatures.
However, if you notice that your pegs are slipping multiple times a week it would be a good idea to take your violin in to a shop to get checked out.
If your pegs slip and unravel and you don’t have a violin teacher or access to someone who can help, you can start by slowing tightening your peg.
You’ll want to do it very slowly and carefully because the string can easily snap while you’re turning with the pegs. The old saying “righty tighty, left loosey” applies to violin tuning.
If you turn the peg to the right, you’ll notice the string is feeling tighter and sounding higher or sharper. If you turn the peg to the left, you’ll notice the string is feeling looser and sounding lower or flatter.
How to Tune a Violin Using Violin Strings
On the violin we have four strings. Starting with the thickest string, they are called G, D, A, and E. An easy way to remember this is to use the mnemonic device below:
G = Good, D = Dogs, A = Always, E = Eat. Good dogs always eat!
When tuning a violin, we always start with the A string. In a sitting position with your violin upright on your knee, use your left had to pluck the string and use your right hand to turn the peg.
Pluck the string as you turn your peg to the right to make it tighter and look at your tuner to see how close to the middle dial it is.
When it’s right in the center, bring your left hand up to the scroll and support it as you press the peg firmly into the hole to make it stay exactly in that spot, being careful not to let it move.
If the peg turns even a hair while you’re pressing in, it can make the string go out of tune. The real trick here is to press the peg into the hole it sits in firmly, and sometimes you will have to use all of your strength to make it stay where you positioned it.
If you can’t get the string perfectly in tune, that’s okay. Just get it as close as you can and we’ll do the rest when we fine tune.
Depending on what kind of condition your violin is in and how recently it’s been played, it may take several tries to get the peg to stay in place.
As I said earlier, if you’re constantly having problems with your pegs it’s best to get help from a violin teacher or violin shop.
For the rest of the pegs, you’ll use the same process, except when you go to tune the G and the D strings you’ll switch hands and use your left hand to turn and your right hand to pluck and support.
How to Fine Tune Your Violin
Now let’s move on to fine tuning. First, hold your violin in your normal playing position with your chin. Bring your left hand under the violin to hoover over the fine tuners so you can turn them as you’re bowing the strings.
We’ll start off with the A string and tune each string until the dial is in the center. The same principles apply here: if you turn to the right, the string will get higher or sharper. If you turn to the left, the string will get looser or flatter.
If you notice that the fine tuner has been turned as tight as it will go you will have to loosen it all the way up (if it starts rattling you’ll know you’ve gone too far) and then re-tune with the pegs followed by some touch up tuning with the fine tuners.
Keep in mind that if your violin is new or hasn’t been played in a long time, it will usually take a few weeks of constant tuning to get it to stay in tune.
You’ll want to tune your violin up every time you play it. Over time you’ll notice that the more your violin is played the better in tune it will stay.
With lots of practice and patience, you can develop ear training skills that will someday allow you to tune your violin by ear without the help of a tuner.
In the meantime, I hope this tutorial on how to tune a violin helps you get started. Thanks for watching and I wish you the best in your musical journeys!
Post Author: Naomi Cherie S.Naomi teaches violin in Austin, TX. She is a classically trained violinist with over 20 years of experience and a diverse musical background. Learn more about Naomi Cherie S. here.
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