Free Online Fiddle Tuner

How to tune a fiddle

A fiddle is tuned in perfect fifths — from the lowest string to the highest, G D A E. It's the exact same tuning as a violin (a fiddle is a violin — "fiddle" just describes the old-time and bluegrass playing style) and the same four notes as a mandolin.

1. Open the tuner and choose the G D A E (Mandolin) preset.
2. Play one string at a time. The tuner hears the pitch and shows whether you're sharp or flat.
3. Use the pegs for big adjustments, then the fine tuners on the tailpiece for the last little bit — that's what they're there for.
4. Work from the G string up to the E, then re-check — tuning one string can nudge the others as the bridge settles.

Tune by ear with the drone

Old-time and bluegrass fiddlers live and die by their ear, so it's worth learning to tune without staring at a needle. Play the drone on a string's target note and match the string to it — when the two stop "beating" against each other, you're in tune. Because a jam won't pause for you to plug in a tuner, that skill pays off fast.

Check your tuning against the band

Once you're close, the real test is playing along. Pull up a tune in Jam Trainer and you'll hear immediately whether your fiddle sits right on top of the guitar and mandolin, or whether a string has drifted. So tune first with the needle, then let your ear confirm it against a full band.