This free chromatic tuner uses an animated strobe display and a 12-note chromatic strip to help you tune any instrument to any note. No download, no app.
RUNS ENTIRELY IN YOUR BROWSER · YOUR AUDIO IS NEVER RECORDED OR SENT ANYWHERE
Last updated: · Reviewed for accuracy against current browser APIs
Share:
Click "Start Tuning" and allow microphone access to begin.
The note strip highlights whichever of the 12 notes you're closest to.
Watch the strobe display.
Spinning right means sharp, spinning left means flat, and it slows to a stop when you're perfectly in tune.
Adjust your tuning peg or embouchure.
Make small adjustments and watch the strobe respond in real time as you get closer.
Repeat for every string or note.
Work through your whole instrument one note at a time.
What is a chromatic tuner, and how is it different?
A chromatic tuner lets you tune to any of the 12 notes in the chromatic scale — C, C#, D, and so on through B — rather than being locked to a handful of fixed strings the way a dedicated instrument tuner is. A typical guitar tuner only expects to hear E, A, D, G, B, or E; play any other note and it won't know what to do with it. A chromatic tuner has no such restriction, which makes it useful for any instrument, any note, and any alternate tuning you might want to try.
Understanding the strobe display
The moving stripe pattern in this tuner is a software version of a genuinely old piece of precision equipment: the strobe tuner, long favored by piano technicians and instrument techs for its exceptional sensitivity. Physical strobe tuners come in a couple of different display styles — some use a rotating disc, others a linear strip of stripes like the one here — but the underlying principle is identical: if the pitch is exactly right, the pattern appears to freeze in place, and any deviation makes it visibly drift in one direction.
This tuner recreates that same effect digitally: the bar's sliding speed and direction are tied directly to how many cents sharp or flat you are. A fast slide to the right means noticeably sharp; a fast slide to the left means noticeably flat; and as you approach perfect tuning, the movement visibly slows down before stopping completely. This is genuinely more sensitive to small differences than a needle-style gauge, since a needle has to physically run out of room to swing, while a sliding pattern can keep slowing down smoothly all the way to zero.
Standard tuning references
Instrument
Standard tuning (low to high)
Guitar
E2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4
Ukulele
G4 · C4 · E4 · A4
Violin
G3 · D4 · A4 · E5
Bass guitar
E1 · A1 · D2 · G2
Banjo (5-string, open G)
D3 · G3 · B3 · D4 · G4
Standard tuning is simply whatever tuning is most typical and widely taught for a given instrument — it's what makes common chords and fingerings work the way method books expect. This chromatic tuner works identically whether you're matching one of these standard tunings or something else entirely.
Alternate tunings and other uses
Because this tuner isn't locked to any single instrument's expected notes, it works just as well for alternate tunings — drop D, open G, DADGAD, or any custom tuning you're experimenting with. Just know which note each string needs to land on before you start, and tune to that note directly using the chromatic strip and strobe display exactly as you would for standard tuning.
Singers and vocal students use the same tool for ear training — checking scales and arpeggios, practicing landing a tricky note accurately, and confirming whether a note that felt slightly "off" was actually sharp, flat, or right on target. Since it reads whatever pitch reaches the microphone, it works equally well for a voice as it does for any instrument.
Reading the note strip alongside the strobe
The chromatic strip and the strobe display answer two different questions, and using them together is what makes tuning fast. The strip tells you which note your instrument is currently closest to — useful confirmation that you're actually hearing the note you think you're playing, especially handy if you've lost track partway through an alternate tuning. The strobe then tells you how close you are to that note, with far more resolution than a note name alone could ever convey.
In practice, most tuning follows the same rhythm: glance at the strip to confirm the right note is highlighted, then focus entirely on the strobe as you make small adjustments, watching the spin slow down and finally stop.
Fixing common tuning problems
Nothing happens after clicking Start. Check that microphone access was actually granted — look for a blocked-microphone icon in your browser's address bar.
The strobe never slows down. Make sure you're playing one clean, sustained note rather than a chord or a quickly plucked, decaying note — a steady tone gives the algorithm much more to work with.
The note detected seems wrong. Very low or very high notes can occasionally be misread by an octave if a strong overtone is mistaken for the fundamental. Try adjusting your volume or playing a bit more firmly.
Confidence stays low. Reduce background noise and move closer to your microphone — a quiet room makes a bigger difference to accuracy than almost anything else.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chromatic tuner, and how is it different from a normal tuner?
A chromatic tuner lets you tune to any of the 12 notes in the chromatic scale, rather than being locked to one specific instrument's standard tuning. A dedicated guitar or ukulele tuner only expects a handful of fixed strings; a chromatic tuner works for any note on any instrument, including alternate tunings.
How do I read the strobe display?
The pattern spins right when your note is sharp and left when it's flat. The speed of the spin shows how far off you are, and it slows down as you get closer, eventually stopping completely when you're exactly in tune.
Why do real strobe tuners feel more precise than a needle gauge?
A strobe pattern can show extremely fine differences in rotation speed that are hard to represent as a small needle movement. Professional instrument techs have used strobe tuners for decades for exactly this reason.
Can I use this for alternate tunings?
Yes. Since a chromatic tuner isn't locked to any one instrument's standard tuning, you can tune each string to whatever note an alternate tuning calls for, as long as you know the target note in advance.
Can I practice singing with this tuner?
Yes. Many singers use a chromatic tuner to check scales and arpeggios, practice landing tricky notes accurately, and identify whether a note that feels "off" is actually sharp or flat.
What reference pitch should I use?
440 Hz (A440) is the modern standard used by almost everything. Only switch to 442 Hz or another reference if you have a specific reason to, such as matching an orchestra or a specific recording.
Why isn't the tuner picking up my instrument?
Check that microphone access was actually granted, make sure you're playing one note at a time rather than a chord, and try moving closer to the microphone in a quieter room.
Does this work for any instrument?
Yes, for any monophonic instrument or voice — guitar, ukulele, violin, brass, woodwind, and more. It won't give a useful reading on a full chord played at once.
Is my audio recorded or sent anywhere?
No. All detection happens locally in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded, recorded, or stored.
More tools on ProDeviceTest
Testing a whole audio setup rather than just tuning? These run the same way — instant, no download, right in your browser.
Pitch Detector — see the note, Hz, and cents deviation of any sound
Tone Generator — play any exact frequency as a tuning reference
Mic Test — check your microphone with a live waveform
ProDeviceTest