If the tension varies too much it might cause the bridge to collapse. The bridge is not glued or attached to the violin, it is held there by the tension of the strings. You want to keep the tension on each string fairly equal. If this is the case then tune each string a little at a time and then go on to the next string. Again, chromatic tuners vary in the way they work, but you'll get the feedback you need, and they will also show you when your string is tuned correctly.Caution: If your violin is extremely out of tune or if you are replacing the strings on the violin, and tuning it the first time, you have to be careful. If it's right in the middle, hooray! The pitch is correct. If the line moves to the right of center, then the pitch is too high and you need to loosen the string. While tuners can all be a little different, one very common way they work is this: If you play your string and the line moves to the left of center, the pitch is too low and you need to tighten the string. This is a great option, if you are still learning to trust your ears, if you don't have a reference pitch, or if you want to tune to a specific "A" (440, 442, etc.)Ī chromatic tuner or tuning app can tell you if your string is too high or too low, and it can also tell you if your tuning efforts have corrected the pitch. Pro violinists do this all the time, without even thinking about it, and don't worry, it's not "cheating"! Your margin of error will decrease and decrease as you get better at tuning. If you purposely make the pitch obviously too low, you can be certain that you have to raise it to make it right. If you really can't tell whether to make it higher or lower, just purposely make it a little too low and then raise the pitch until it sounds right. Do you have to raise or lower your voice, from the pitch of your string, to the correct pitch? This can help you determine if you are too high or too low, and the which direction to go. If you can't tell if you are getting it right: A more advanced violinist, violist or cellist will often tune the A, and then tune the rest of the strings using the perfect fifths as a guide. "Are they happy together?" is a simple question to ask, and as you play more, you will become more attuned to the answer. Listen for this by playing double-stops: the E-A together, then A-D together, D-G together, the G-C together. Determine if it is too high or too low, and use the tuners to correct your string.Ī violin, viola or cello is tuned in perfect fifths, and so it is possible to tune by hearing that interval, or by playing double-stops to listen for the meshing of the soundwaves. Tuning the other strings: You can use a piano, pitch pipe, Youtube video such as this for a comparative pitch for the other strings, and do the same process: listen to the correct pitch, then play your string. If you have to use the pegs, turns them only a tiny, tiny bit, as even a small turn will change the pitch enormously. *If you are tuning a very small violin, a little goes a long way! Most will have fine tuners on every string try the fine tuners first. You'll also turn geared pegs a little less they are more like fine tuners in that way. If you have geared pegs then you don't have to push in because they work differently. Since traditional pegs are held in place simply by friction, push the peg in a little as you turn, to keep the peg from slipping. To loosen, or make the pitch lower, turn the peg back, toward you. To tighten, or make the pitch higher, turn the peg forward. PEGS: Use to tune larger differences in pitch To loosen, or make the pitch lower, turn the fine-tuner counter-clockwise. To tighten, or make the pitch higher, turn the fine tuner clock-wise. If the pitch is too high (too sharp), make it lower by loosening the string.įINE TUNERS: Use to tune small differences in pitch. If the pitch is too low (too flat), make it higher by tightening the string. Don't be too concerned if your first attempts are a bit frustrating and imperfect: just keep trying! As with everything, the more you do it, the easier it will get. Here is a guide to get you started, including some PDFs with the basics, a video to show you what to do, and a written version to show you what to do if you want to tune by ear, or with a chromatic tuner. But as an aspiring violinist or violist, you will need to learn to tune it for yourself, and the sooner the better. Sometimes it's just easier to have your teacher tune your violin for you.
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