How to Tune a Violin

A beginner-safe G3–D4–A4–E5 workflow using pegs, fine tuners, a microphone tuner, and perfect fifths.

Before tightening a string

Confirm the tuner is showing the correct octave as well as the correct letter. Tightening an E string that is already above E5 can break the string. If a peg slips, binds, or requires force, ask a teacher or violin shop to inspect it.

Standard violin tuning

4th string

G3

196.00 Hz

3rd string

D4

293.66 Hz

2nd string

A4

440.00 Hz

1st string

E5

659.25 Hz

Tune GDAE step by step

  1. 1

    Prepare the violin and tuner

    Sit or stand somewhere quiet. Confirm that the bridge is upright, the strings run correctly through the bridge and nut, and the fine tuners are not screwed all the way down. Open the microphone tuner and select Standard GDAE.

  2. 2

    Tune the A string to A4

    Start with the A string, the second-thinnest string. Bow or pluck it and adjust toward A4 at 440 Hz. Use the fine tuner for a small correction; use the peg only when the string is far from A.

  3. 3

    Tune the D string to D4

    Play the D string alone and adjust it to D4. Then bow D and A together. A clean perfect fifth sounds steady; audible beating means the interval still needs a small correction.

  4. 4

    Tune the G string to G3

    Tune the thickest string to G3, then compare G and D together. Make small adjustments and allow the pitch to settle after each turn.

  5. 5

    Tune the E string to E5

    Tune the thinnest string last. E strings are under high tension, so turn slowly and prefer the fine tuner. Stop if the string is already above E5 rather than tightening farther.

  6. 6

    Recheck every string

    Changing one string changes the total tension on the bridge and instrument. Check G, D, A, and E again, then verify the G–D, D–A, and A–E fifths.

Fine tuner or peg?

Use a fine tuner when the string is already close—generally within a semitone. Turn clockwise to raise pitch and counterclockwise to lower it.

Use the peg for larger corrections. Support the peg box, turn only a small amount, and push the peg inward gently as you turn so it seats without excessive force.

Watch the bridge

Repeated tuning can pull the top of the bridge toward the fingerboard. From the side, the back face of a correctly fitted bridge should remain close to perpendicular to the top. If it is visibly leaning, have a teacher or shop correct it instead of forcing it yourself.

Start with the standard tuner

Select Standard GDAE and tune one open string at a time.

Open the GDAE violin tuner