Tune your viola with the microphone of your phone or computer. The viola preset is already selected: press the microphone, play a string, and the tuner shows the note and whether it is too low or too high.
Standard viola tuning: C G D A
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 4th string (C, lowest) | C3 | 130.81 |
| 3rd string (G) | G3 | 196.00 |
| 2nd string (D) | D4 | 293.66 |
| 1st string (A, highest) | A4 | 440.00 |
The viola is tuned a fifth below the violin: its three highest strings (G D A) are the same notes as the three lowest violin strings.
How to tune a viola in 3 steps
- Press the microphone button and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
- Start with the A string. Bow it or pluck it and let it ring. The tuner shows the note and a needle: left is flat, right is sharp.
- Turn the peg for large changes and the fine tuner for small ones, until the needle stays in the centre. Then tune D, G and C.
Tips for tuning a viola
- Hold the phone or laptop close to the instrument, in a quiet room.
- The C string is low (131 Hz). A long, firm bow stroke gives the tuner a clear signal.
- Tune up to the note: if a string is sharp, loosen it a little below the note and bring it back up.
- Does your orchestra tune to A4 = 442 Hz? Tap “A4 = 440 Hz” under the tuner to change the reference pitch.