Tuning Your Violin: Should you use a Pitch Fork or Your Ear?

Tuning your violin does not have to be difficult. With practice, it will become second nature to you. You simply need some basic information to get started tuning your violin. To properly tune your violin you need an outside source to provide you with a tone to get started. The tone of choice for most violin players is a 440 Hz A. 440 Hz refers to the number of times per second an object vibrates. Because 440 Hz is a constant number, the A sound is always the same. One of the best ways to establish this tone is with a 440 Hz tuning fork. Tuning forks are available at most music stores starting at about $10.00. It will take some practice to get used to causing the tuning fork to vibrate while plucking the A string on your violin.

A simpler, although not quite as accurate, way of tuning your violin is with a piano, electronic keyboard, or other musical instrument. This method is usually easier, especially for beginners. You simply strike or play the corresponding note of the string you are trying to tune. In other words, if you're tuning the A string, you simply play an A note on the piano or electronic keyboard. If the string is out of tune you simply turn the tuning peg located on the scroll of the violin. If the string is barely out of tune you fine tune it with a fine tuning screw located on the bridge. Violins are tuned with what is called open strings. An open string is played without fretting, or using your fingers to press on the string, thus changing its tone. It is generally easier on the violin string by loosening it first, or making it sound flat and then slowly tightening the tuning peg and finally bringing it to perfect pitch using the fine tune adjustment.

Tuning violin is accomplished by using music theory concept of perfect fifths. This means that each string is tuned to a point that is exactly five notes above its counterpart. In other words, if the bottom string is tuned to a G, the next string above it will be tuned to a D. Including the G count G, A, B, C, D. Using the same method you can see the third string up will be the A string. The fourth and final string on a violin is tuned to E. When each string is individually tuned you can double-check them by plucking it together with the string next to it. Because you have tuned your violin in perfect fifths, plucking consecutive strings will create a nice harmonic tone. Many violinists will simply tune the A string and then use this harmonic principle to tune the remaining strings.

Adverse weather conditions, namely humidity and temperature, can adversely affect how long your violin stays in tune. Therefore it is necessary to always re tune your violin before starting a practice or performance session.

As you can see, there are many different ways of tuning a violin. As you experiment with various methods, you will determine which one works best for you.

Hailey Alton is a violin performer, music lover and teacher. For more great tips on Tuning a Violin please visit http://learntheviolinfast.com/