First things first: let's make sure all your strings are in tune!
Here's a helpful video to help you! You can also read the steps below.
Here's a helpful video to help you! You can also read the steps below.
Websites for Tuning:Apps for Tuning:
- GuitarTuna (also good for violin, viola, cello, and bass)
- insTuner
- Cleartune

Steps for tuning using the fine tuners:
What if the fine tuners are turned all the way down, or turned so far up that they no longer change the string sound?? If that is the case, then you must use the pegs at the top of the instrument to tune. Follow all steps 1-5, except turn the pegs instead of the fine tuners.
Tips for tuning with pegs:
- Play an A on your tuner or on a video (see above for tuning technology recommendations). Then, play the A string on your instrument, either plucking or bowing, and notice if it's the same, lower, or higher than the sound from the audio.
- If the sound is the same, then it's in tune! Move on to step 5.
- If the sound is lower on your instrument, you want to make your string higher. Using the fine tuners (the small tuning knobs near the chin rest), turn the knob for the A strings towards the higher strings (to the left). Keep plucking or bowing as you turn the knob until the A sounds the same as the audio.
- If the sound is higher on your instrument, you want to make your string lower. Using the fine tuners, turn the knob for the A string towards the lower strings (to the right). Keep plucking or bowing as you turn the knob until the A sounds the same as the audio.
- Follow steps 1-4 for the next three strings. I always go to D next, but you could go to G and then up to E or down to C, depending on which instrument you're playing.
What if the fine tuners are turned all the way down, or turned so far up that they no longer change the string sound?? If that is the case, then you must use the pegs at the top of the instrument to tune. Follow all steps 1-5, except turn the pegs instead of the fine tuners.
Tips for tuning with pegs:
- Turning up makes the string higher, and turning down makes the string lower.
- When turning the peg go slowly and always pluck or bow the string. If you go too fast and turn too tight, you may break a string!
- Push the peg in while turning it up. This will help the peg to stay in position when the string is tighter and not slip due to more pressure.