Free Online Tuner for Viola

Why is it important to tune your viola?

Tuning your viola is crucial for a successful performance. It not only improves your playing but also contributes to a harmonious ensemble experience. An out-of-tune viola can disturb the overall balance of sound, affecting both the player, other musicians, and the audience.

Mastering the art of tuning develops your sense of pitch and ear training, skills that are valuable in diverse musical situations. This proficiency allows viola players to collaborate effortlessly with others.

To help you in this essential task, we have provided a step-by-step tutorial on tuning your viola, using our free online tuner!

How to use our Free Online Viola Tuner?

Utilising an online tuner equipped with a microphone for tuning your viola is incredibly beneficial. It actively listens to the notes you produce and provides instant feedback on their pitch accuracy. The online tuner supplements this with visual aids, displaying images to assist you in determining if your viola is tuned at the correct pitch.

This feature is particularly advantageous for beginners, simplifying the process of comprehending and rectifying the pitch. The convenience of being able to use the tuner anytime and anywhere is a major advantage, ensuring that your viola consistently produces optimal sound.

Wondering how to use our free online viola tuner with your device's microphone? Let's break it down:

Step 1: Click the "Allow" button on the tuner above to let it access your desktop microphone.

Step 2: When your browser asks for permission to use the microphone, select "yes". This allows the tuner to detect the notes you play.

Step 3: Play the notes on your viola while keeping an eye on the tuner. It will tell you which note you are playing, and the colours will let you know if it's too low (flat) or too high (sharp). Make adjustments accordingly.

Let's take the note A as an example:

In Tune: You're at the correct pitch when the corresponding note is displayed, and the pitch indicator is showing a green colour, as close to 0 as possible.

Too low: If the correct note is showing but the colour is orange or red on the negative values, you are too low (flat).

Too high: If the correct note is showing but the colour is orange or red on the positive values, you are too high (sharp).

Make sure the letter on the tuner matches the note you are playing. If not, it could mean your viola needs further tuning adjustments.

Remember that background noise can affect the accuracy of the tuner, so try to tune your viola in a quiet environment.

Don't worry if tuning feels a bit tricky and takes some time at first. With practice, it will become a speedy and easy thing to do!

How to tune your viola step-by-step 🎻

Tuning a viola is an essential skill for any musician. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to tune a viola, using our free online viola tuner:

1. Start by playing the A string (the thinnest string) with your bow

Play the open A string and adjust the fine tuner (if you have one) until the tuner displays the note "A". We recommend that you play the note using your bow, instead of plucking, to sustain the sound and make the tuning process more accurate.

Then you can adjust until the light indicator on the tuner turns green and remains as close to zero as possible. When it's accurate: your A String is in tune!

If the colours orange or red point towards the negative values, the pitch on your string is too low (flat): raise it.

If the orange or red colours point toward the right, the pitch on your string is too high (sharp): lower it.

Ensure the displayed letter name matches the string you are playing; discrepancies suggest significant tuning issues that may require peg adjustments.

For instance, attempting to tune the A string but seeing the letter G (or F, or E, etc.) on the screen indicates that the string is too low (flat). Conversely, if you are tuning the A string but seeing the letter B (or C, or D, etc.) on the screen, then the string is too high (sharp). Make precise adjustments using the fine tuners and/or pegs.

2. Tune the D string:

• Play this string and adjust if needed, until the tuner displays the note "D".
• Then you can adjust until the light indicator on the tuner turns green and remains as close to zero as possible. When it's done: your D string is in tune!

3. Tune the G string:

• Adjust the peg for the G string until it matches the pitch indicated on the tuner.

4. Tune the C string:

• Adjust the peg for the C string until it matches the pitch indicated on the tuner.

5. Check and fine-tune:

• Once you have tuned all four strings, play each open string again to double-check their tuning.
• Make small adjustments as needed to fine-tune each string.

💡 Our tips for tuning your viola:

• Turn the pegs slowly, by gently pushing into the scroll at the same time. Carefully avoid tightening the strings too much; the tension will cause the string to break and will then need replacing.
• Be patient; it may take a bit of practice to get the hang of tuning.

How often should you Tune Your Viola?

Tune your viola every time you practise! Violas can be quite sensitive - even a small shift in temperature, humidity, or a gust of wind can throw an instrument out of tune, and it's not your fault.

If you are worried about your viola strings snapping during tuning...

It's a common worry, but not a big issue: consider it a rite of passage! Keep spare strings in your viola case. To avoid string breaks, tune in small increments, check tuning frequently and avoid tuning too high, which adds excessive tension on the strings. Prevent the bridge from collapsing by making adjustments in small increments and monitoring tuning regularly. These precautions minimise the risk of mishaps during the tuning process.

What does Hertz mean?

Simply put, "Hertz" (Hz) measures how many times a sound vibrates in one second. A = 442Hz means the note vibrates 442 times per second.

Historically, musical instruments were tuned at different standard pitches. For instance, Baroque Pitch is A = 415Hz, and in the Classical period it was around A = 428-430Hz. A = 432Hz, known as "Verdi's A", is considered mathematically consistent with the universe, offering softer and brighter tones, said to be clearer and easier on the ears. Today's Concert Pitch is considered to be A = 440Hz.

While it might be better suited for experienced players, you have the option to adjust the Hertz value of our tuner to meet your specific requirements. For beginners, seeking advice from your teacher is highly recommended!

Tune your viola and start playing!

Your viola is all tuned up and ready to go! At Tomplay, we have a diverse selection of viola sheet music that caters for all tastes and skill levels, with accompanying backing tracks included.

Discover thousands of sheet music arrangements for the viola with high-quality audio accompaniment tracks. Our sheet music catalogue for the viola contains numerous viola-piano duets with accompanying parts for piano, trios, quartets and quintets, with the possibility of taking out the viola part in order to play along with the rest of the ensemble, as well as several pieces with an orchestral accompaniment.

Whether you enjoy playing classical, pop, rock, jazz or film scores, choose from more than 2,000 backing tracks arranged for viola players of every level, from beginner to pro. It's the end of low-quality MIDI sound and hello to sonorous inspiration! All our scores contain accompaniment backing tracks, expertly recorded by professional musicians, or performers licensed with our partner, Deutsche Grammophon.

TAILOR-MADE FUNCTIONS:

• No more low-quality MIDI playback: Tomplay gives you access to more than 80,000 music scores that contain high-quality recordings to accompany you.
• Tempo Adjustment: Users have the flexibility to modify the tempo of audio accompaniments, tailoring practice to a suitable skill level.
• Self-Recording: The app offers a self-recording feature, allowing users to record their performances and review progress.
• Annotation Tools: Musicians can annotate scores with fingerings, bowings, customised highlights, text additions, and more.
• Print your scores with your own annotations.
• Passage Looping: Musicians can loop specific sections of music, for more focused and efficient practice.
• Tuning fork for re-tuning string and wind instruments.
• Integrated Metronome.
• A live Visual Aid to show placement on the fingerboard for individual notes, while learning a new piece.

Tomplay is an application trusted by more than one million musicians in 157 countries. Be inspired to join us and let the music begin! 🎻🎶

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Looking for inspiration to play music on your viola?

You can explore our blog where you will find many articles for viola players. We share tips and our recommendations on sheet music to play. From 8 great sheet music titles to play on the viola , to how to read sheet music , and the history of 5 brilliant jazz musicians , there is a lot of content that caters for all tastes and skill levels!

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