Music & Audio

Instrument Tuner

Use a microphone to estimate the pitch of one sustained note. The chromatic tuner shows the nearest note, its frequency, and how many cents it is sharp or flat, with an adjustable concert A reference.

Free online tool

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Chromatic microphone tuner

Start the microphone, allow browser access, and play one note at a time. Audio is analyzed on this device and is not recorded or uploaded.

Low to high: E2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4

The guide does not change detection: this tuner reports the nearest note in 12-tone equal temperament. Tune in a quiet room, pluck gently, and wait for the note to settle. The detector covers about 45–1,400 Hz and may lock onto a harmonic.

Microphone stopped
—

Waiting for a clear single pitch

Flat—Sharp

Play one sustained note near your microphone.

One cent is 1/100 of a semitone. The nearest-note display can change if you are more than half a semitone from your intended note. Match the string guide first, then use the cents reading.

Live microphone samples are analyzed on this device. No recording or audio upload is performed.

GET STARTED

How to use the Instrument Tuner

  1. 01

    Use a quiet room and select your concert A4 reference. Most standard tuning uses 440 Hz.

  2. 02

    Select Start microphone and grant browser permission. The tool listens only after this action.

  3. 03

    Play one open string or steady note near the microphone. Confirm the note name and octave against the reference guide.

  4. 04

    For a flat reading, raise the pitch; for a sharp reading, lower it. Stop the microphone when finished. Listening also stops when this page is hidden.

Examples

Tune a guitar A string

The standard guitar A string is A2, about 110 Hz when A4 is 440 Hz. Match A2 first, then adjust until the cents reading is near zero.

Change concert pitch

If your ensemble uses A4 = 442 Hz, choose 442 before tuning. Every note target shifts to match that reference.

Check a ukulele

Common high-G ukulele tuning is G4, C4, E4, A4. Low-G ukuleles use G3 instead; the chromatic detector can show either octave.

Reading cents and note names

A cent is one hundredth of a semitone. The tuner uses 12-tone equal temperament and finds the nearest note relative to the selected A4 reference. A negative reading is flat and a positive reading is sharp. The displayed note may switch when the pitch moves beyond halfway toward a neighboring semitone.

Getting a stable pitch

Play a single note with a clear fundamental. Loud chords, room noise, breath noise, distortion, and a strong harmonic can confuse detection. Let the initial attack settle, keep other strings quiet, and try a different microphone distance if the display jumps. The detector uses a YIN-style periodicity estimate with a short median smoother; it is an aid rather than a calibrated measurement instrument.

Microphone access and cleanup

Browser microphone access requires a secure page and explicit permission. The audio stream is analyzed locally without recording or upload. Stop closes the audio context and releases microphone tracks. Leaving or hiding the page also releases the stream. If permission is denied, allow the microphone for this site in browser settings and start again.

What to know

  • Approximate 45–1,400 Hz range; polyphonic sources and dominant harmonics can produce incorrect readings.
  • Accuracy depends on the microphone, browser audio processing, background noise, and source stability.

Common questions

Which instruments can I tune?

Single-note sources such as guitar, ukulele, violin, and voice can work within the approximate 45–1,400 Hz detection range. The string guide is a reference; it does not limit chromatic detection.

Why does the tuner show the wrong octave?

A strong overtone may be detected instead of the fundamental. Play more gently, damp other strings, and move the microphone. Check the expected octave rather than trusting only the letter name.

Can I tune a bass guitar’s low E?

Standard E1 is about 41.2 Hz, below this detector’s lower limit. Use its 12th-fret harmonic at E2 as a guide, or use a dedicated bass tuner for the fundamental.

Does it play sound or record me?

No. The microphone connects to an analysis node, not the speakers. This tool does not record, save, or upload your audio.

Sources & references