Practical violin guide
How to tune a violin: G, D, A, and E
The violin’s four open strings are G3, D4, A4, and E5. Start from A, make small adjustments, and recheck the strings because changing one string slightly changes the tension on the others.
The four violin string pitches
From the thickest, lowest string to the thinnest, highest string, standard violin tuning is G3–D4–A4–E5. Each neighbouring pair is a perfect fifth apart. Most orchestras tune A4 to 440 Hz, although 442 Hz is also common; match the reference used by the people or recording you are playing with.
| String or pattern | Notes | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| G string | G3 · 196.00 Hz | Lowest and thickest string |
| D string | D4 · 293.66 Hz | A perfect fifth above G |
| A string | A4 · 440.00 Hz | The usual reference pitch |
| E string | E5 · 659.26 Hz | Highest and most sensitive string |
Frequencies shown for equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz.
A reliable tuning order
- Tune A first. It is the reference for the instrument and for an ensemble.
- Tune D, then G. Work downward in fifths, listening as well as watching the tuner.
- Tune E last. Its thin string reacts to very small movements, so approach the pitch gradually.
- Check all four again. The bridge and body share the total string tension, so one adjustment can nudge another string.
Bow one string at a time with a steady, medium-speed bow. A very light, scratchy, or changing sound gives any tuner less stable information. Keep the bow away from neighbouring strings and wait for the reading to settle before adjusting.
Fine tuners or pegs?
Use a fine tuner when the string is already close. Turn clockwise to raise the pitch and counter-clockwise to lower it. If a fine tuner is screwed nearly all the way down, loosen it first and bring the string close with the peg so the screw has room to work again.
Use the peg only for a larger correction. Support the peg box, move the peg a tiny amount, and push it gently inward as you turn so it seats rather than slipping. If the pitch is far too high, the string feels unusually tight, the bridge is leaning, or you are unsure which way the peg turns, stop and ask a teacher or repairer. A broken string is cheaper than a damaged bridge, but neither is a useful tuning lesson.
Why the needle still moves
A bowed note is alive: the attack, bow pressure, contact point, and vibrato all move its spectrum. Aim for a stable centre rather than trying to freeze every frame at exactly zero cents. For an open string, let the note speak, hold an even bow, and judge the middle of the reading.
Once the tuner says the open strings are centred, play adjacent strings together. A clean fifth has a settled sound with less obvious beating. The tuner establishes the pitch; listening to the interval begins training the skill you need when no screen is present.