Tuning a Violin: The Best Ways To Keep Your Violin Sounding Fantastic

All stringed instruments need to be tuned on a regular basis. Pianos, guitars, harps, and especially violins all can get out of tune. Because the strings are so fine and subject to stretch during use, most experts recommend tuning a violin each time you take it out of the case to play it. IF you are playing it for long periods of time, you may need to re-tune it.

The violin has four strings known as the "G" string, "D" string, "A" string and "E" string. A good way to remember their order is the saying - "Good Dogs Always Eat". Or you can make up an acronym of your own. Each string must be tuned to what is termed a "perfect fifth" pitch. When tuning a violin there are three things you must have - a good ear, a steady hand and patience. But most importantly you need something that sounds the perfect fifth in order to get your violin strings to mimic that sound.

There are many different types of tuners -- electronic, chromatic (which tunes with other instruments), tuning forks, a pitch pipe, even online and smart phone apps. Beginners should seek the help of their instructor in choosing the correct tuner to use. None are very expensive.

Tuning a violin is accomplished with two tools called pegs (i.e., string adjusters) and fine tuners. Each has a specific purpose in helping your violin strings getting in tune. Most of the time, the pegs are used first if that particular string is more than a half-note out of sync with the note produced by the tuner. The fine tuner is called that because it simply fine tunes the string's sound which is less than half a note out of sync by tweaking it ever so slightly until the perfect matched sound is achieved.

Violin strings are not all equal. Each one, if you look closely, is a bit thicker or thinner than the ones next to it. The G string is the most durable of the four, where as E string is the most delicate. You should begin with the most durable, i.e., the G string first.

Always tighten the four strings in sync with each other. If you tighten only one string at a time, it will place a skewed amount of pressure on the bridge, which is the little wooden comb at the base of the head which separates the strings. The proper way is to use a peg to tighten each string until it is within a note of the tuner, then do the same again for each string until it is within a half-note of the tuner's perfect fifth sound. From there you can carefully fine tune the strings with, you guessed it, the fine tuner.

Keep in mind that the violin's bridge is not secured. The violin's bridge is purposely designed to shift with the tension of the strings. That helps them produce a better tone. The most important thing is keeping the bridge at a perpendicular angle to the head of the violin the whole time you are tuning a violin. If the pressure applied while tuning causes the bridge to slip, very gently push it back into an upright position.

At close examination, the pegs are not uniform. They are slightly tapered at one end. This is so the peg can put the right amount of pressure on the strong you are tuning without slipping. Once again, only use the pegs until you believe you are within a half-note of the correct pitch, then switch to the fine tuner.

Use caution with applying the fine tuner. The main purpose for the peg is id you applied that much pressure with a fine tuner it would leave and indentation in the violin head. What if you can't tighten string with the fine tuner any further but still feel your string is not in perfect pitch? Simply loosen the fine tuner and again try the peg.

When it comes to tuning a violin, patience really is a virtue. Even if you think the strings are just a hair out of tune, get in the habit of using the pegs first before the fine tuners, all the while ensuring the bridge remains at a 90 degree angle. It takes time and practice, but eventually tuning a violin will seem almost an automatic action.

My name is Benjy Portnoy, and ViolinLessonsNow.com is a website that I set up to help people learn how to play violin. I first picked up the violin in third grade (many years ago), and it helped spurred my endless love for all types of music ever since.

In making this site, I'm hoping to share that spark and passion for music with players of all ages. The goal of this site is to help anybody - female or male, young or old to learn more about this seminal instrument and start down the path of becoming a solid player with good habits. Get great tools and free tips on learning the violin, including a no-cost, 7-day mini-course: http://www.violinlessonsnow.com/tuning-a-violin/

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Acoustic Guitar Tuning Is Easy When You Know The Simple Methods And Choose The Best One For You

The guitar is one of the more convenient instruments to play because it is portable, but one of the problems is that you need to tune it before you play it, the guitar is an instrument that can go out of tune quite easily and make your playing sound horrible, so depending on where you are playing you can use different methods to tune your guitar. There are various ways of tuning your guitar, but the easiest way is digital tuning.

The simplest, free way of tuning your guitar provided you have Internet access, on the Internet there are various digital guitar tuners available that are very simple to use, all you do is click on the string that you want to tune and then tune the same string on your guitar to the note that is played on your computer speaker, then do the same for all the other strings. Simple as that.

There are various electronic guitar tuning devices on the market, they can be very expensive but are arguably the most convenient way of tuning your guitar because they are small and portable, (that's if the batteries aren't flat when you want to use it!) some of these devices also make the sound of the string that you choose and then you tune your guitar strings one by one to the relevant string sound played by the device.

Acoustic guitar tuning by hand is the only method of tuning your guitar if you don't have a special device, and this is where it is very difficult to explain the procedure and is normally frustrating to learn. Once you know how to tune your guitar manually it is very simple to remember, on the Internet you will find various tutorials that will teach you this guitar tuning method.

On the Internet you will find countless explanations of how to tune your guitar, most of them you need a degree in engineering to understand what they are talking about. The tuning methods above are the three most used methods and the digital tuning method is the easiest of them all if you have a computer and an Internet connection.

The manual method is also very easy but it does take a few tries before you are able to do it easily, the advantage of the manual tuning method is that you can do it where ever you want and need without the need for any tools, around the campfire is a good example.

About The Author

Jorge de Andrade is an author and his knowledge of the guitar is exemplary and a good reference.
For more information on this subject: acoustic guitar tuning or to do the FREE mini-course where you will get FREE guitar lessons and 8 FREE guitar tools go to http://www.funacousticguitarandelectricguitarlessons.com/

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Easy Guitar Tuning

Beginners, wherever they are, usually face difficulties to tune up their guitar to international standard tuning. There are few ways to tune up guitar easily according to this standard. Below is the easiest and fastest way to tune the guitar.

Most guitars have six strings; first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth string. The first (lowest) is the thinnest and the last is the thickest.

Follow these easy steps:

1. Turn the first string (the thinnest one) up to the level tone desired.
2. Then turn the second string up, press fifth fret, pick and match the tone of this second with the tone of first string (no fret pressed).
3. The same process applied to the third one. Turn it up and press on the fourth fret then pick it. Match the sound resulted with the second, do not press any fret.
4. Now turn the fourth string. Press it on the fifth fret. Pick it and match the tone with the tone of the third.
5. Do the same steps with the other strings. Turn and match the sound or tone of fifth string fret five with the fourth open. Then match the sound of the sixth with the fifth string open.

In short all the strings tuning are like this; the 2nd string fret 5=1st string open (no fret pressed).
the 3rd, fret 4=2nd open
the 4th, fret 5=3rd open
the 5th, fret 5=4th and,
the 6th, fret 5=5th open.

That is one of the many ways to tune guitar easily. It is advised to know a few other ways of tuning up guitar to enrich our knowledge.

To get the international standard tone of guitar, beginners may find it easily on the internet. Many musical sites have already put this guitar standard sound on their sites. Try http://howtotuneaguitar.org.

It is advised to memorize each tone of the guitar string well. Understand and keep in mind the pitch of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and six strings again and again. Refer to the site mentioned above to hear the sound of each string. Listening practice will sharpen one's ears and improve the listening ability. This listening ability will enable one to tune the guitar strings without any difficulty. It will also enable a person to find notes of new songs and music easily.

Enrich this skill with the other skills in music. There are so many sources in music available out there.

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Your Guitalele Questions on Chord Charts and Tuning Answered

The Guitalele (sometimes incorrectly spelled "Guitarlele") may be new to you now but you're sure to hear much more about this unique instrument in the months to come. The Guitalele (GL-1) was originally introduced by the Yamaha Corporation in 1997. But only now, in 2011 given the huge popularity of the Ukulele around the world has it been made available in the US. Many musicians refer to the Guitalele as half guitar and half ukulele. In truth it's much more than that. This unique mini six string instrument is the size of a baritone ukulele (17" inch scale) or you could say like the size of a small guitar. It has nylon strings similar to the classical guitar but it's tuned more like a Ukulele. The Guitalele's tuning is pitched up to (A - or up a 4th) at (ADGCEA). Think of a guitar with a capo on the 5th fret. The Guitalele's top four strings (GCEA) are the same as the Ukulele. The bottom two strings (AD) add a bit of bass.

Though the Guitalele can be tuned by ear you may find it easier to tune the Guitalele with a clip on chromatic tuner. Popular stringed instrument tuner brands include the Snark SN-2 and the Korg CA-1 or CA-30. Many of the chord shapes that are played on the Guitalele are the same shapes that are played on the guitar. However a D-chord played on the guitar becomes a G-chord when the same shape is played on the Guitalele. An E-chord shape played on the guitar becomes an A-chord when the same shape is played on the Guitalele, and so forth. For those of you that would prefer not to transpose chords up or down in your head as you play your Guitalele you might find it easier to have a chord chart specifically for the Guitalele.

One thing for sure about Yamaha's Guitalele (GL-1) is that it's both fun and easy to play for all ages. You also appreciate the small travel size of the Guitalele that makes it easy to take anywhere; when hiking, to the beach, mountains, to school, or just jamming with friends, you name it. But don't be fooled by its small size. The tone is rich and mellow and it's amazingly loud too.

The GL-1 Guitalele from Yamaha isn't a toy but instead a fine musical instrument that's built with the same top quality that Yamaha builds into its acoustic guitars. For those of you that are experienced players you'll love the unique tone that the Guitalele will add to your music.

To get your free Guitalele chord chart you can do so by visiting our website at ParadiseUkes.com. Not only will you find our Guitalele chord chart you'll also see that we've included a way for you to tune the Guitalele by ear if you don't have an electronic tuner.

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