Guide
Chromatic Tuner: the complete guide
By Vivek Badoni, music teacher · Updated
A chromatic tuner recognises all twelve notes in every octave, so it works for any instrument and any tuning. This online chromatic tuner opens in Chromatic mode: play or sing a single steady note and it shows the nearest note name, how many cents sharp or flat you are, and the exact frequency in hertz.
Instruments you can tune
| Instrument | Tune to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Violin | G D A E | G3 D4 A4 E5 |
| Viola | C G D A | C3 G3 D4 A4 |
| Cello | C G D A | C2 G2 D3 A3 |
| Mandolin | G D A E (pairs) | G3 D4 A4 E5 |
| Banjo (5-string, open G) | g D G B D | G4 D3 G3 B3 D4 |
| Bansuri / flute | Its written Sa or C | Check the instrument's key |
| Voice | Any note | Sing a steady note to check your pitch |
For guitar, ukulele and bass, the dedicated guitar tuner, ukulele tuner and bass tuner recognise each string automatically.
Reading the tuner
- Note name: the nearest of the twelve notes, with its octave number. Middle C is C4 and the A above it is A4.
- Cents: a cent is a hundredth of a semitone. −20 means 20 cents flat (tune up); +20 means 20 cents sharp (tune down).
- Hz: the frequency the tuner hears. Use this to check against a specific target.
When you're within 3 cents the note turns green; that's closer than almost anyone can hear.
Practising singing in tune
Sing a steady "aah" and watch the dot. Try to hold it in the centre for five seconds, then slide slowly to the next note of a scale. It's a simple, honest way to train your voice: the tuner shows you exactly what your ear may be missing.
Changing the reference pitch
Most music uses A4 = 440 Hz. If you're tuning to an older recording, a piano that's slightly off, or an orchestra that tunes higher, set the Reference pitch anywhere from 430 to 450 Hz and every note moves with it.
