This free violin tuner shows an interactive scroll and pegbox — tap a peg to target that string, or let Auto mode detect it for you. Supports Standard, Open G, Open D, and Cross tuning.
RUNS ENTIRELY IN YOUR BROWSER · YOUR AUDIO IS NEVER RECORDED OR SENT ANYWHERE
Last updated: · Reviewed for accuracy against current browser APIs
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Choose your tuning below, then click "Start Tuning."
Pick Standard GDAE, or an alternate tuning like Open G, Open D, or Cross.
Click "Start Tuning."
Allow microphone access when your browser asks.
Bow or pluck the A string first.
Most violinists tune A to 440 Hz first, then use it as the reference for the rest.
Watch the meter.
Turn the tuning peg for large adjustments, or the fine tuner for small ones, until the needle centers.
Tune D, G, and E, then recheck all four.
Tuning one string can slightly shift the others, so a final pass over all four strings is always worth it.
How this tuner detects pitch
When you bow or pluck a string, this tool analyzes the sound through your microphone using an autocorrelation algorithm — it compares the waveform against slightly delayed copies of itself to find the point where they line up most closely, and that lag reveals the exact frequency you're playing. This runs entirely in your browser via the Web Audio API; your microphone audio is never recorded, uploaded, or sent anywhere, and it disappears the instant you close the tab.
Troubleshooting a jumpy or inaccurate reading
The needle won't settle, or jumps between notes
Background noise is the most common cause — a fan, a TV, or other instruments ringing nearby all confuse pitch detection. Mute any strings you're not testing and play a single, clean note rather than a chord.
It picks the wrong string
In Auto mode, a string that's very badly out of tune can land closer to a neighboring string's target pitch than its own, so the tuner locks onto the wrong one. Switch to manual string selection until it's roughly in range, then Auto mode will track it correctly from there.
Nothing registers at all
Check that microphone permission was actually granted — look for a blocked-mic icon in your browser's address bar — and confirm you're playing firmly enough for the microphone to pick up a clear signal above any background noise.
Standard violin tuning, and why it's built on fifths
Standard violin tuning is G3, D4, A4, E5 — written GDAE from the lowest string to the highest. What makes this arrangement distinctive is the interval between each neighboring pair: every string sits a perfect fifth from the one beside it. That's the interval that gives the violin family its characteristic resonance, lets double-stops ring cleanly, and is exactly why the traditional "tune in fifths" method (checking two adjacent open strings together and listening for that ringing harmony) works as a genuine tuning technique in its own right, independent of any tuner.
String
Note
Frequency
G (thickest)
G3
196.00 Hz
D
D4
293.66 Hz
A
A4
440.00 Hz
E (thinnest)
E5
659.25 Hz
Pegs vs. fine tuners
A violin has two completely different mechanisms for adjusting pitch, and knowing when to use each makes tuning far less frustrating. The tuning pegs in the scroll's pegbox handle large adjustments — turning the whole peg noticeably changes pitch, which is exactly what you need when a string is well off target, but it's also easy to overshoot with. The fine tuners, small screws mounted on the tailpiece, move in tiny increments for the final precise adjustment once a peg has gotten you close.
Some professional players remove fine tuners entirely, since their added mass can very slightly encourage wolf tones or a buzzing string. For most players, though, especially anyone tuning by ear or by app, fine tuners make landing exactly on pitch dramatically easier — use the peg to get close, then the fine tuner to land it precisely.
Alternate violin tunings
Tuning
Strings (low to high)
Common use
Open G
G3 D4 G4 B4
Rings a full G major chord open — folk and fiddle music
Open D
D3 A3 D4 F#4
The same open-chord idea in D major
Cross (Fiddle)
A3 E4 A4 E5
Octave-paired strings — old-time Appalachian fiddle music
Cajun
F3 C4 G4 D5
A whole step down from standard, used in Cajun fiddle traditions
This tool covers Standard, Open G, Open D, and Cross directly. For any other alternate tuning, or to tune to a completely custom note, our Chromatic Tuner listens for all 12 notes rather than a fixed set of strings.
Is violin tuning the same as viola tuning?
No, though the two instruments are closely related. Violin tuning is G3-D4-A4-E5. Viola tuning is C3-G3-D4-A4 — it drops the violin's high E string entirely and adds a low C string instead, effectively sitting the viola's whole range a fifth below the violin's. If you play both, this is worth remembering before you start turning pegs on the wrong assumption.
Fixing slipping pegs
A peg that won't hold its position is almost always a friction problem, not a broken instrument. Pegs and their holes rely on a snug friction fit to stay put, and that fit gradually loosens as temperature and humidity shift over time. Pushing the peg in firmly while turning it is a reasonable temporary fix, but doing this repeatedly can eventually wear the hole further. A more lasting solution is peg drops or peg compound, applied directly to the peg where it meets the pegbox — these products are specifically formulated to restore the right amount of grip without making the peg stick or squeak. In a pinch, a bar of soap rubbed lightly on the peg can work similarly. If slipping continues after that, it's worth having a luthier check whether the pegs or their holes need to be refitted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune my violin with this tool?
Choose your tuning, click Start Tuning, then bow or pluck a string. The closest peg highlights automatically, and the needle shows sharp or flat until the peg turns green.
What is standard violin tuning?
Standard violin tuning is G3, D4, A4, E5 — commonly written GDAE — with each string tuned a perfect fifth apart from its neighbor.
Should I tune with the pegs or the fine tuners?
Use the tuning pegs for large adjustments when a string is well off pitch, then switch to the fine tuners on the tailpiece for the last small adjustments.
Which string should I tune first?
Most violinists tune the A string first, matching it to 440 Hz (concert pitch), then tune the other three strings relative to it.
Why do violinists tune in fifths?
A violin's four strings are tuned a perfect fifth apart from each neighbor, which is the interval that defines the violin family's characteristic sound and makes double-stops and open-string harmonies ring naturally.
What are some common alternate violin tunings?
Open G (GDGB) rings a G major chord open. Open D (DADF#) does the same for D major. Cross tuning (AEAE) creates octave pairs common in old-time music. Cajun tuning (FCGD) is a whole step down from standard.
Is violin tuning the same as viola tuning?
No. Violin tuning is G3-D4-A4-E5, while viola tuning is C3-G3-D4-A4 — a viola swaps the violin's high E string for a lower C string.
Why do my violin pegs keep slipping?
Pegs slip when the friction fit between the peg and its hole wears loose from temperature and humidity changes over time. Peg drops or compound restore enough grip to fix it.
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
Practicing music rather than just tuning up? These run the same way — instant, no download, right in your browser.
Viola Tuner — a perfect fifth lower, same scroll-and-pegbox design
Cello Tuner — two octaves lower, same scroll-and-pegbox design
Mandolin Tuner — same GDAE note names, paired courses instead of single strings
Chromatic Tuner — tune any instrument to any of the 12 notes
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