How accurate is the pitch detector?

Our tool is highly accurate, with a precision of within ±5 cents of a note. It uses the industry-standard YIN algorithm for reliable, real-time analysis suitable for both musicians and audio professionals. For more details, see our accuracy tests .

Is my audio data private and secure?

Absolutely. Your privacy is our top priority. All audio processing is done locally in your browser. No audio is ever recorded, stored, or sent to a server. You can read our full data security policy for more information.

The detector isn't working. What should I do?

First, ensure you have granted microphone access in your browser. If it's still not working, try using a quiet, echo-free environment and holding a clear, steady note. For a complete list of solutions, please visit our troubleshooting page .

What are 'cents' in music?

A 'cent' is a unit of measurement for musical intervals. There are 100 cents in one semitone (the distance between two adjacent notes on a piano). Our meter shows how many cents sharp (positive value) or flat (negative value) your note is, allowing for very precise tuning.

What is the difference between pitch and frequency?

Frequency is the scientific measurement of a sound wave's vibrations per second, measured in Hertz (Hz). Pitch is the musical term for how high or low a note sounds to our ears. While they are related, pitch is a subjective perception, whereas frequency is an objective measurement. Learn more in our glossary .

Can I use this to tune my guitar?

Yes! This tool works perfectly as an online guitar tuner. Simply play each string one at a time and use the feedback to adjust the tuning pegs until the note is perfect. It works for acoustic and electric guitars (if played through an amplifier).

Pitch Detector Authors & Editorial Policy | Expertise You Can Trust

👥 Our Authors

🎤 Alex Rivera — Audio DSP Engineer & Researcher

Role: Lead Technical Writer
Expertise: FFT algorithms, YIN, real-time audio processing, and tuning systems.
Experience: 10+ years in digital audio research, previously at a music tech company developing DAW plugins.
Education: M.Sc. in Audio Signal Processing (Stanford CCRMA).
Contributions:

“Pitch analysis is the bridge between math and music — it’s what lets technology truly listen.”

🎵 Sarah Collins — Vocal Coach & Music Educator

Role: Content Reviewer, Singing & Training Guides
Expertise: Vocal pedagogy, intonation training, ear development, and choir direction.
Experience: 12+ years coaching singers and voice actors worldwide.
Contributions:

“Visualization changes everything. When singers see their pitch, they start hearing more accurately too.”

🎧 Liam Parker — Music Producer & Studio Engineer

Role: Technical Contributor & Tester
Expertise: Recording acoustics, audio calibration, mixing accuracy, and studio tuning.
Experience: Over a decade engineering tracks for independent artists and film scoring.
Contributions:

“Pitch detection is more than just tuning — it’s sonic truth. It helps us see sound.”

🧠 Editorial & Review Team

Every article is reviewed by at least one subject-matter expert and one editorial reviewer before publication.
This ensures:

Factual accuracy in every explanation.
Transparency about testing methods.
Clear attribution for all contributors.
Ongoing updates as technology and standards evolve.

🧩 Editorial Standards & Review Policy

At PitchDetector.com, accuracy and user trust come first.
Here’s how our editorial process works for all guides, tutorials, and knowledge hub content:

1. Topic Research

We identify search topics based on user intent — “how pitch detection works,” “vocal accuracy,” etc.
All research references academic, open-source, or standards-based sources (IEEE, AES, CCRMA, etc.).

2. Draft & Technical Validation

The content is written by a qualified author and verified for technical correctness using internal testing tools.

3. Expert Review

Each piece goes through a peer review by another contributor experienced in either DSP or vocal pedagogy.

4. Editorial Integrity

We do not accept sponsored content or product placements.
If we ever reference external tools or software, they’re tested firsthand.

5. Ongoing Updates

Content is re-audited every 6–12 months for algorithm changes, browser updates, and new research findings.

⚙️ Example: Our Accuracy Tests are updated every time a new browser version alters Web Audio API performance.

🧾 Citing Sources & References

Whenever a guide covers technical or theoretical material, we link to verified references such as:

“YIN, a fundamental frequency estimator for speech and music,” de Cheveigné & Kawahara, 2002.
“The Fast Fourier Transform and its Applications,” IEEE Signal Processing, 2015.
Open-source Web Audio API documentation by W3C.

This commitment ensures every claim can be traced to a credible source — not assumptions or paraphrasing.

💬 Transparency in AI Assistance

We occasionally use AI-assisted drafting for clarity and formatting, but every technical or instructional claim is written, reviewed, and approved by a human expert.
AI may assist with layout or copy tone, never scientific accuracy.

🌍 Commitment to Accessibility & Ethics

PitchDetector.com follows web accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and strives to make all content inclusive for learners of every background.
We do not collect personal data beyond analytics disclosed in our Privacy Policy.

🧭 Trust & Verification

If you ever have a question about an article’s accuracy, source, or author, you can reach us directly via:
👉 Contact Us

We value transparency and will clarify our data, methods, or testing results anytime.

🔗 Related Hubs

Knowledge Hub — Learn the science behind pitch detection.
Use Case Hub — See real-world examples of how our tools are used.
Data Security Hub — Learn how we keep your audio private.
Methodology — Understand our algorithm design and testing process.