This is the tuning reference for Pitch Detector: the standard tuning of every common string instrument, with the note and exact frequency in Hz of each string, how to tune by ear or with a tuner, and why the whole system hangs on one note, A4 = 440 Hz. Use the charts to check a tuning, then open a free tuner to get there.
Quick answer: standard guitar tuning is E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 (82.41, 110, 146.83, 196, 246.94 and 329.63 Hz). Ukulele is G4 C4 E4 A4, violin G3 D4 A4 E5, and 4-string bass E1 A1 D2 G2, all based on the concert pitch A4 = 440 Hz.
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Instrument Tuner
One tuner for guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, cello, mandolin, banjo and more, with presets for each tuning and an adjustable A4 reference. Pick your instrument and play a string.
Open the instrument tuner →Standard Tuning Chart: Notes and Frequencies
Strings are listed from the lowest-pitched to the highest (on ukulele and banjo, in playing order), with equal temperament at A4 = 440 Hz.
| Instrument | Standard tuning | String frequencies (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar (6-string) | E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 | 82.41 · 110.00 · 146.83 · 196.00 · 246.94 · 329.63 |
| Bass guitar (4-string) | E1 A1 D2 G2 | 41.20 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 (5-string adds low B0 30.87) |
| Ukulele (soprano, concert, tenor) | G4 C4 E4 A4 | 392.00 · 261.63 · 329.63 · 440.00 (low-G: G3 196.00) |
| Baritone ukulele | D3 G3 B3 E4 | 146.83 · 196.00 · 246.94 · 329.63 |
| Violin | G3 D4 A4 E5 | 196.00 · 293.66 · 440.00 · 659.26 |
| Viola | C3 G3 D4 A4 | 130.81 · 196.00 · 293.66 · 440.00 |
| Cello | C2 G2 D3 A3 | 65.41 · 98.00 · 146.83 · 220.00 |
| Double bass | E1 A1 D2 G2 | 41.20 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 |
| Mandolin (paired strings) | G3 D4 A4 E5 | 196.00 · 293.66 · 440.00 · 659.26 |
| Banjo (5-string, open G) | G4 D3 G3 B3 D4 | 392.00 · 146.83 · 196.00 · 246.94 · 293.66 |
Need a note that is not in the chart? The musical note frequency chart lists every note from A0 to C8, and the note to frequency converter and frequency to note converter work out any value, at any reference pitch.
Free Tuners by Instrument
Dedicated tuners with the presets, alternate tunings and tips for each instrument. All use your microphone in the browser; nothing is recorded.
- Guitar Tuner
Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, open and half-step-down tunings.
- Ukulele Tuner
Soprano, concert, tenor and baritone, high-G or low-G.
- Violin Tuner
G D A E strings, with notes for viola, cello and fiddle.
- Chromatic Tuner
Any note, any instrument or custom tuning, with a strobe and cents.
- Tone Generator
Play any reference pitch (A440, 432 Hz, any note) and tune by ear against it.
Tuning Guides by Instrument
Guitar and bass
- Guitar Tuning Guide
Standard tuning plus ten alternate tunings, with Hz and songs.
- 12-String Guitar Tuning Chart
Octave and unison pairs for all twelve strings.
- Can a Pitch Detector Tune a Guitar?
When a pitch detector works as a guitar tuner.
- Bass Guitar Tuning Chart
4-, 5- and 6-string bass tunings with frequencies.
- Bass Guitar String Chart
String names, gauges and order for bass players.
- Tuning Low Bass Notes
Why low B and E are hard to detect, and what helps.
Ukulele, violin and piano
- Ukulele Tuning Tips
Re-entrant tuning, new strings and quick checks.
- Violin Intonation Practice
Train finger placement on a fretless instrument.
- Piano Tuning Basics
What a pitch detector can and cannot do on a piano.
- Average Cost of Tuning a Piano
What a piano tuner charges and how often to book one.
How to Tune: With a Tuner or by Ear
With a tuner
- Play one string at a time and let it ring; pluck with medium force.
- Read the note name first: if it is the wrong note, turn the peg until it is right.
- Fine-tune until the needle sits at 0 cents. Always tune up to the note: if you are sharp, go below it and come back up, so the string holds its pitch.
- Check all strings a second time, because changing one string’s tension slightly moves the others.
By ear
- Reference note: tune one string to a tuning fork, piano or reference tone (usually A = 440 Hz), then tune the others to it.
- Fifth-fret method (guitar): the 5th fret of each string matches the next open string, except the G string, where you use the 4th fret to match B.
- Fifths (violin family): play two neighbouring strings together and adjust until the beating disappears and the fifth sounds pure.
- Harmonics: matching 5th- and 7th-fret harmonics removes beats, but gives pure fifths that are about 2 cents wider than equal temperament, so finish with a tuner.
Tuners sometimes jump to another note on a harmonic or a low string; why tuners show multiple notes explains the overtones behind it.
The Reference Pitch: A4 = 440 Hz
Every tuning above is built on concert pitch, where the A above middle C vibrates 440 times per second. It became the international standard in the 20th century; before that, pitch varied widely from city to city.
| Reference | Where it is used |
|---|---|
| A = 440 Hz | International standard (ISO 16), most bands, tuners and recordings |
| A = 442–443 Hz | Many orchestras, for a slightly brighter sound |
| A = 415 Hz | Baroque ensembles playing on period instruments |
| A = 432 Hz | An alternative some musicians prefer; the health claims are not supported by evidence |
- A440 Tuning Standard Explained
Why 440 Hz became concert pitch.
- Historical Pitch Standards
From Baroque pitch to modern orchestras.
- 432 Hz vs 440 Hz
The debate, and what the physics actually says.
- What Are Cents in Tuning?
How tuners measure how far off a note is.
- Intonation and Temperament
Equal temperament vs just intonation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to 0 cents do I need to be?
Within about ±5 cents sounds in tune for most practice and live playing; aim for ±2 cents when you record. The smallest difference most listeners notice is about 5 to 10 cents.
How often should I tune my instrument?
Check the tuning every time you play. New strings, temperature and humidity changes pull strings out of tune quickly; a piano needs a professional tuning about once or twice a year.
Should I tune to 432 Hz or 440 Hz?
Use 440 Hz unless you play alone or with a group that agrees on another reference: everything else you play along with, from recordings to other instruments, assumes 440 Hz.
Why is my string in tune alone but out of tune in chords?
Check the intonation of the instrument itself (saddle position and string height) and your finger pressure; equal temperament also makes some intervals slightly impure by design.
More hubs: train your hearing with ear training, measure your voice in the vocal range guide, browse all free music tools or every article in the knowledge hub.