How to Tune a Violin

Violin, which is also known as a fiddle, is a fret-less instrument, that belongs to the string instrument family. The violin is also one of the most difficult instrument, however, a mastery once achieved, further sweetens the flow of melody. The musical notes that drift out of the violin always seem to touch the heart of the audience, and ripples the emotions that are stored deep down inside. A violin, thus is an instrument played by a few and listened by many. Famous conductors, composers and musicians who have directed and created amazing scores, often comment that one does not merely listen to the violin, one feels the violin. Indeed violinists do make the fiddle sing. Karen Briggs, who is also known as the 'lady in red', makes the strings of the violin, dance and sing, while she makes the bow swim across a beautiful ocean of staff and stave.

Music Theory of the Violin

A violin is a high-pitched instrument, meaning that it's notes are written in the treble clef or 'G' clef. Occasionally, some notations are also played in 'C' clef. These type of compositions are difficult to play and are rare. The violin is a very difficult instrument to master because it is a fret less instrument, and is played with a bow. Hence, the violinist has to rely only on his listening capabilities, scale sense and finger memory. Any student studying the fiddle, must know how to tune a violin, because it nurtures and evolves an excellent sense of scale and notations, not to mention the harmonics. Hence, if you are a student of the fiddle, then make it a habit to tune your violin, without the help of any electronic tuner.

Most of the violin teachers would answer this query with only three words, 'with your ear'. The violin which is a four-stringed instrument is tuned in the sequence G-D-A-E from the left to right. Hence, if you hold the violin in front of you, the string to the extreme left should play the 'G' note, if tuned properly.

Tuning a Violin

A violin is usually tuned in two steps. The first type of tuning is termed as an initial tuning. For an initial tuning you may use an online tuner or a piano as a reference. Use the piano to tune the 'A' string. The note that you play initially, will not match the 'A' note that is being played on the piano. First derive, if the A string of the violin is in a higher scale than the 'A' note of the piano. If you just loosen the tuning pegs slightly and then tighten it again, then you will immediately come to know if the tuning of the string is higher or lower than the 'A' note. 'A' being the highest note, you can easily tune the remaining strings that is 'E', 'D' and 'G'. In some cases, the pattern of G-D-A-E is also followed. Please note that, rotating the tuning pegs as slowly, deliberately and as little as possible makes the tuning effective and to the point, or rather should I say, to the note.

Once the strings are tuned up in G-D-A-E sequence, the accurate pitch or octave of the violin must be set. For this purpose, one needs to use the fine tuners, that are present at lower end of the strings. First set the octave of 'A' string, according to the piano. Then set the fine tuners, below the 'A' note so that it becomes the highest note and the remaining strings, which are tuned in descending order from that note. This kind of tuning is very difficult and is easier said than done. But once the octave is set, you are ready to play your violin.

Tuning a violin is a great exercise that develops, your sense of notations and scales. Also do not get discouraged if you are not able to tune the violin to perfection, the next time, you are bound to tune it a little better. The skill of tuning a violin is not achievable within a few days, it is bound to develop and progress with time, eventually becoming sharper and sharper. To inculcate this skill, make it a point to tune your violin, without aids and tools such as clip-on tuners. In order to get the reference notes that you need, record the desired notes played on a piano or another well tuned violin, which would serve the purpose well. Simply put, it's just a matter of practice and being used to the process.