

The tuner is incredibly sensitive - and customizable. I use this tool CONSTANTLY, and almost always have it open on my stand when practicing. In my iPhone screen report each week, Tunable usually accounts for over 50% of my phone use. Best for: Every level of violist, usability, and convenience.
#VIOLA TUNER SETTINGS FULL#
#VIOLA TUNER SETTINGS FREE#
That being said, with the current smartphone technology, a free or affordable phone app is often far more accurate than these stand-alone devices. You can find a great, mid-range tuner for an affordable price. The more expensive tuners are far more accurate, but it’s important to note that unless you’re extremely advanced, or working in alternate tuning systems, extreme sensitivity isn’t actually necessary. If you’re looking for a stand-alone tuner, you get what you pay for. Tuners range in price from free apps to an expensive, high-tech device. If you don’t have a smartphone and want a simple device, a clip-on tuner might be for you, but be warned that they are limited in their capability. Phone apps, however, are often cheaper, or even free, and are just as accurate. However, they aren’t flexible, and I find them to be difficult to use for practicing. Clip-on vs App vs Stand-Alone DeviceĬlip-on tuners are usually quite affordable, with many coming in under $10.
#VIOLA TUNER SETTINGS PORTABLE#
Tuners range from the small, portable clip-on variety to a hefty strobe tuner, so you need to decide what works best for you. They also range in size, weight, and capability.Īdditionally, because the viola is often quieter than a violin or cello, some tuners that work okay for these instruments might not be the best choice for the viola. There’s a huge range of prices for tuners, from free phone apps to high-tech strobe tuners. Things to Consider When Choosing a Viola Tuner If your ear is not well developed, they’re probably not the best option, but they can be very useful. In the same way that the orchestra’s tune is in reference to a drone played by the oboe or piano, they offer a reference tone that you can then match your instrument to. These are often connected to metronomes and don’t have a microphone. The best apps also have metronomes and recording capability, which makes them an all-in-one practice tool. As someone who isn’t particularly good at remembering to carry a lot of different tools, I love the fact that my phone is the only thing I need to keep track of. While not as sensitive as a high-end strobe tuner, they’re often just as good as digital tuners, if not better. We live in an age of smartphones, and I’m a huge fan of my phone apps. If you want something that’s easy to use, they’re great, but they don’t work unless directly clipped to your instrument, making them less useful for practicing, and they don’t offer an option for drones. These are great if you’re looking for something small that clips directly onto your instrument. They usually include a drone feature with a full 12-octave range, settings that increase sensitivity towards different instrument types (strings, brass, piano, voice, etc), and occasionally a metronome feature as well. These tuners are far more sensitive than the basic digital variety, with an accuracy of around 1/1000th of a semitone or 1/1000th of a fret. A few varieties also have a drone feature. These tuners give you basic information about your tuning and indicate if you are flat or sharp with a needle scale on a small digital screen.ĭespite being simple, they usually tell you all the information you need to know unless you’re using it for very specific or technical tuning systems. This is the most common and simplest kind of tuner. These tools help you tune your instrument, practice intonation, and improve your technique and ear-training. While there’s no such thing as a specific “viola tuner,” there are ones that work better for this instrument than others. In this guide, I’ll help you figure out which tuner is right for you.

There are also a lot of options out there.
