Tune an instrument by ear and meter
A microphone tuner that shows the nearest note and how many cents sharp or flat you are — no app, no account.
Tools used in this guide
The job
Tuning is matching a frequency: A4 = 440 Hz, and every note of equal temperament follows from there. A tuner hears the note, names it, and says how far off-center you are.
Tune
Start the microphone and play a steady single note. The meter shows the detected note, the frequency, and cents off — aim for the center; ±5 cents is in tune for most purposes.
- Hold the note steady — vibrato confuses any detector.
- Noise and chords are rejected by design; play one clean note.
Worked example
Your low E string reads 82.8 Hz as E2, +8 cents — slightly sharp; slacken the peg until the meter centers.
Where it stops
60–2000 Hz covers most orchestral instruments. Equal temperament only — no just intonation or alternate temperaments, no transposition display, and no alternate A4 reference. Mic permission is required; audio is never recorded or sent.