Why is viola harder to tune than violin?

Thicker strings take longer to settle.

Should I tune with bow or pizzicato?

Bowed is more sustained; pizz also works.

A note that buzzes from body resonance.

How often should I tune?

Every time the viola comes out of the case.

Use our chromatic tuner for non-standard A.

Bratschen Stimmgerat CGDA

Eine reine Quinte tiefer als die Geige: nutzen Sie den Bogen sanft.

Sofort geladen

Allow mic
Bow long, steady strokes
Use fine tuners for small changes
Tune A first, then work down through D, G, C

So Benutzen

Reference A

Tap A to hear the 440Hz tone.

Bow A String

Long, steady bow stroke.

Move Down

D, G, C in order; centre the needle on each.

Troubleshooting

Install wolf-tone eliminator
Try different string brand
Have luthier adjust soundpost

Funktionen

4 Strings CGDA

All four viola strings supported.

Needle Display

Precise ±50¢ deviation readout.

Reference Tones

Hear each string's target.

Bow-friendly Detection

Optimized for sustained tones.

Vollstandige Anleitung

How to Tune a Viola Online

Viola is tuned CGDA: a perfect fifth lower than violin. The C string is the viola's signature low note, producing the rich, warm sound that distinguishes viola from violin. Tune A first (440 Hz), then work down through D, G, and C. Bow with a long, steady stroke: short choppy bowing produces unstable pitch.

Pegs and Fine Tuners on Viola

Like violins, violas use pegs for large tuning changes and fine tuners at the tailpiece for small adjustments. The C string especially benefits from a fine tuner: it's thick and resistant to peg-based fine tuning. Viola pegs work the same as violin pegs. Apply pressure inward while turning to prevent slipping.

Viola vs Violin Tuning Differences

Viola strings are thicker and longer than violin strings. They take longer to settle, especially after restringing. Expect to retune more frequently in the first hours. Viola's lower pitch means the fundamental frequencies are lower: some laptop mics struggle to detect the C string (130 Hz) clearly. Use a clip-on tuner or external mic if needed.

Common Viola Tuning Problems

Wolf tones: a 'wolf' is a note that buzzes or wavers due to body resonance. Common on viola C and G strings. Solutions: wolf-tone eliminator (small weight) on the affected string, or change to different string brand. String squeaks: usually due to dry hair or unevenly worn strings. Apply rosin properly and rotate string brands annually.

Viola Setup

Bridge height, sound post placement, and string choice all affect intonation. A luthier should check these annually for serious players. Modern viola strings (Dominant, Evah Pirazzi, Larsen) last 6-12 months.

Kompatibilitat

Funktioniert auf allen grossen Plattformen und Browsern

Gerat / Betriebssystem	Chrome	Firefox	Safari	Edge
Windows 10/11	✅	✅	:	✅
macOS Ventura+	✅	✅	✅	✅
Android 8+	✅	✅	:	✅
iPhone / iPad (iOS 14+)	✅	:	✅	:
Chromebook	✅	:	:	:
Linux (Ubuntu)	✅	✅	:	✅

Haufige Fragen

Same notes (CGDA): an octave higher.

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