How to Tune a Cello: 3 Approaches to Cello Tuning

The cello, or violoncello, is the tenor voice in the violin family of stringed instruments. Cellists perform by sliding a horsehair bow over cello strings. They may also sound these strings by plucking them with their fingers. Cellos are made by luthiers—woodworking craftspeople who specialize in stringed instruments.

Like other musical instruments in the violin family, the cello uses strings that run from a pegbox at the top of the instrument to the tailpiece at the bottom of the instrument. The pegbox contains four wooden tuning pegs that adjust the string tension and provide an approximate pitch. The tailpiece contains metal fine tuners that let cellists tune to precise pitches.

The cello contains four strings, which are tuned C-G-D-A. Like all members of the violin family other than the double bass, cello tuning goes up in perfect fifths. From the lowest pitch to the highest, the strings are:

• C string: The cello's lowest string (or fourth string) is tuned to the note C2. That is two octaves below middle C.
• G string: A perfect fifth above the C string is the G string. It is also called the third string of the cello. It is tuned to G2.
• D string: The second string of the cello is tuned to the note D3.
• A string: The first string, or highest string, of a cello in standard tuning is the A string. It is tuned to the pitch A3.

There are three main ways to tune a cello, all of which involve using tuning pegs and fine tuners to adjust string tension.

1. 1. Use an electronic tuner. For modern players, a digital chromatic tuner will be the fastest and most accurate way to tune your instrument. When purchasing a cello tuner, seek out a digital tuner that offers chromatic tuning. This lets you set your cello to alternative tunings in addition to standard tuning.
2. 2. Use open strings and harmonics. Because the cello is tuned in perfect fifths, you can use each string as a reference point to tune another. Start by tuning your A string (highest string) to the correct pitch using a piano as a reference. You can then tune your D string by playing the A harmonic—played with the third finger extended from the fourth position. Match that pitch to the harmonic created by your first finger in the fourth position on the D string. Repeat this same procedure on the G string and then the C string.
3. 3. Use an old-fashioned tuner. Before the advent of digital chromatic tuners, cellists used tuning forks and pitch pipes to tune their instruments. You can still use these devices today, although they tend to be less convenient than electronic tuners.

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