Online Cello Tuner
Press Start, allow the microphone and bow or pluck a string. C G D A with A = 440 Hz is set; change A4 for 442.
Press Start and allow the microphone.
Tap a string to hear its note and tune to it by ear.
Cello string notes and frequencies
A cello is tuned C2, G2, D3 and A3, in fifths, an octave below the viola. Tune the A string first (220 Hz when A4 is 440 Hz), then D, G and C. Use the fine tuners for small changes and the pegs only when a string is far off.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | C2 | 65.41 Hz |
| 3rd | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| 2nd | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 1st | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; change A4 in the tuner and the table follows.
Cello tuning: C G D A
The cello's four strings are a fifth apart, like the violin's, starting on the low C two octaves below middle C (65.4 Hz). The A string sounds an octave below the orchestra's tuning A, which is why cellists tune it first and work down string by string.
Low C is the hardest string for a tuner: phone and laptop microphones pick up little at 65 Hz. Hold the device near the f-holes, bow with a steady stroke rather than plucking, and the tuner locks on to the fundamental.
Orchestras often tune to A = 442 Hz. Type it into the A4 field and every string's target moves with it; the table shows the frequencies for the pitch you choose.
How to tune a cello
- Press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Set A4 first if your group tunes higher than 440 Hz.
- Bow the A string lightly and evenly. Turn its fine tuner until the tuner says In tune.
- Tune D, G and C the same way. If a string is more than a semitone off, use the peg, pushing it in as you turn.
- Play neighbouring strings together to hear each fifth, then check every string on the tuner once more.
Pegs, fine tuners and the weather
Many cellos have fine tuners on all four strings, enough for daily tuning. Pegs slip in dry winter air and stick in humid summers; peg compound helps with both. A cello brought in from the cold drifts as it warms up, so let it sit in the room for a few minutes before you tune.
Cello tuner: frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the cello strings?
C2, G2, D3 and A3, from the thickest string. At A4 = 440 Hz they are 65.4, 98, 146.8 and 220 Hz.
Which string should I tune first?
The A string, because it is the reference the rest of the orchestra tunes to. Then D, G and C, each a fifth below the last.
Why does the reading jump when I play the C string?
The microphone may hear the C's overtones more than the note itself. Bow steadily instead of plucking, keep the device close to the instrument and give the reading a second to settle.
Should I tune to 440 or 442 Hz?
Follow your orchestra or teacher. 440 Hz is the standard; many orchestras tune to 442 Hz. Type the value into the A4 field.
Can I tune a viola or a double bass with this tuner?
Yes. Choose Viola in the instrument menu for C G D A an octave higher than the cello. For a double bass choose Bass guitar: it uses the same notes, E1 A1 D2 G2.
Is anything recorded?
No. The sound from the microphone is analysed in your browser while the tuner runs. Nothing is recorded, stored or sent.
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