HOW TO TUNE THE VIOLIN
Tuning your violin is an essential skill that every musician, especially beginner violinists, should learn as it is the first step in practicing and playing the instrument. While many students rely on their teacher to tune their violins during lessons, it is important to take responsibility for tuning your violin at home.
Learning how to tune your violin may seem intimidating at first, but with practice and patience, it can become a simple and enjoyable task. By tuning your violin correctly, you will be able to hear the beautiful sound of the instrument and avoid developing bad habits from playing out of tune.
In this article, I will provide you with a step-by-step guide to tuning your violin, including tips and tricks to make the process easier. With this knowledge, you will be able to confidently tune your violin and enjoy the full experience of playing this beautiful instrument.
3. THE FIFTHS
Tuning an instrument means adjusting the pitch of a sound to correspond with a reference note. The process varies depending on the unique characteristics of each instrument. Regardless of the instrument, the goal of tuning is to match the frequencies of two sounds, so that when two instruments play the same note, the sound is harmonious.
The violin has four strings that are tuned in fifths. This means that the interval between the notes of each string is five notes apart, creating a distinct sound. The strings are ordered from thickest to thinnest and are named G, D, A, and E, respectively. In the illustration below, you can see the location of each string on the violin.
The pegs and the micro tuners
These allow us to adjust the tension of the strings in order to achieve the correct frequency for each one.
The pegs
We use the pegs when the string’s pitch is significantly lower or higher than the desired frequency. The following image shows the respective peg for each string, which you can use as a reference.
To lose the tension on the string or to lower the pitch of the note, we turn the peg towards the front of the violin like this:
To tighten the violin string or increase the tension in order to raise the pitch of the string, we turn the peg towards the back of the violin like this:
To prevent the peg from slipping out of place when tuning, it is important to push it firmly into the peg box while turning. It is also advisable to turn the pegs slowly and gradually, as excessive tension can cause the string to break. As a safety precaution, it is recommended to keep the violin away from the face when tuning, especially for beginners who may be unfamiliar with the process. This helps to prevent injury in case the string snaps during tuning.
MICRO TUNERS
The micro tuners are helpful to make small and precise adjustments to the tuning of the strings when they are very close to the desired tone. These are located at the bottom of the tailpiece, and each one corresponds to a specific string. Refer to the following image to identify the micro tuner assigned to each string:
To tighten the tension of the string or to raise the pitch of the note, we turn the micro tuner clockwise, like this:
To losen the tension on the string or lower the tone of the note, we turn the micro tuner counterclockwise like this:
THE FIFTHS
A musical interval is the difference in pitch between two sounds. When this difference of pitch is of 3 and a half tones it is a perfect fifth. The strings of the violin are tuned in fifths, which means that the pitch difference between the open G string and the open D string is a perfect fifth, as well as the pitch difference between the open D string and the open A string, and the pitch difference between the open A string and the open E string. This tuning is important because it allows for a wide range of notes to be played on the violin and creates a rich and harmonious sound.
The strings of the violin are tuned in fifths like this:
More important than just learning how to count fifths, it’s crucial to develop the ability to sing and hear them accurately. Singing is not just for professional singers; it’s an essential skill for any musician or aspiring one who wants to learn to play an instrument, including the violin. Ear training is indispensable to learn to tune the violin correctly.
My advice for learning how to sing and identify fifths is to find songs that start with this interval, the perfect fifth. Listen carefully to the beginning of the melody repeatedly until you can associate the perfect fifth with the song, making it easier to identify it accurately.
To help you with your practice, here is a list of songs that begin with a perfect fifth, both ascending and descending:
Ascending:
• Star wars, main theme.
• Twinkle twinkle Little star.
• Can´t help falling in love – Elvis Presley. (first two notes of the voice)
• One – Metalica. first two notes of the guitar solo)
Decendents:
• Game of thrones. Main theme (first two notes of the chelo solo)
• The flintstones . Main theme
• Swan lake – Tchaikovski. (first two notes of the oboe solo)
• The way you look tonight – Frank Sinatra. (first two notes of the voice)
• Schindler´s list – Main theme.
Consider incorporating ear training exercises into your daily practice routine. This could include identifying intervals in scales, recognizing chord progressions, and transcribing melodies. There are many resources available online to help with ear training, including apps, websites, and courses. Consistent practice over time will improve your ability to tune your violin accurately and play in tune with others. Remember, ear training is a lifelong process, so don’t get discouraged if progress feels slow at first. Keep practicing and you will see improvement over time.
The A string
This is the first string we tune and it serves as a reference to tune all the other strings. The most important thing is to have a reliable reference of an A note with the desired frequency so that we can use it to adjust the sound of our A string accurately.
To do so, there are several types of tools that can be used.
1. Tuning fork
A tuning fork is a small metal object that produces a pure A note at 440 Hz when struck. Hold the tuning fork by its neck and strike it against your knee or a hard surface. Bring the tuning fork close to your ear and listen to the sound it produces. Use this sound as a reference to adjust the pitch of your A string. However, it is important to note that the tuning fork only provides a reference for the A string. You will need to tune the rest of the strings by adjusting the fifths in relation to the A string. This method is most effective for those who have already developed the ability to identify and adjust fifths and match sounds.
2. Electronic tuner
LOW
JUST
HIGH
The electronic tuner is a great tool, especially for beginners who are still developing their ear training skills. It acts as a guide during the tuning process by using a built-in microphone to listen to the sound of each string and indicating whether the pitch is high, low, or in tune with a light or display.
Using an electronic tuner is straightforward and there are many apps available for both Android and iOS devices. Here are a couple of recommended apps:
– Clear Tune
– n-Track Tuner (available for iOS and is free to use)
When playing long notes on each string, you will see in the screen the corresponding note, if not, move the pegs until you find the right one and then adjust it with the micro tuners until the sign in the screen turns white or locates in the middle.
You can use the electronic tuner to adjust each strings one by one.
3. Piano
To tune your violin using a piano, you will also need sufficient listening skills to match and adjust sounds. Here’s how you can do it:
First, identify the notes E, A, D, G on the piano.
Begin with the A note. Play it on the piano and match the sound with the A string on the violin. You can either pluck the string or use a bow to produce the sound.
Repeat the process with all the other strings. Play the D note on the piano and match the sound with the D string on the violin, then do the same for the G and E strings.
Once we have selected the most appropriate option for us, the way to proceed depends on each instrument.
If the violin is very out of tune, it’s best to start by plucking the strings while holding the violin to listen to the sound and move the pegs to get closer to the desired tone. Once you’re close enough, play long notes with the bow and finish adjusting using the micro tuners. If, on the other hand, your violin just needs a small adjustment, play long notes from the beginning and make the necessary adjustments.
There are different methods you can use to tune your violin. The piano or tuning fork require a good listening level, while the electronic tuner is the best option for beginners.
For those who have mastered the ability to listen and adjust fifths, the steps after tuning the A string are as follows:
Play A simultaneously with the adjacent string (E or D) to listen to the interval harmonically and make the necessary adjustments with the pegs or micro tuners. The suggested order to proceed is A-E, A-D, and D-G.
It’s important to maintain a long and clear sound with constant pressure and speed to hear the sound clearly and tune all the strings appropriately.
I hope you found this article useful and that your musical journey is filled with happiness and satisfaction. If you have any doubts, leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to help.
Thank you for reading! 🙂