A cello has four strings tuned a fifth apart: C, G, D and A, from the lowest and thickest to the highest. Tuning well takes a minute once you know which tool to reach for. This guide covers the pegs, the fine tuners and how to check your tuning by ear.
01 The four strings
- C2, about 65.4 Hz: the lowest and thickest string.
- G2, about 98 Hz.
- D3, about 146.8 Hz.
- A3, 220 Hz: the highest string.
These figures assume the usual reference of A4 = 440 Hz. Some orchestras and teachers tune a little higher, such as 442 Hz. Use whatever reference the people you play with use.
02 Pegs and fine tuners
The pegs in the pegbox make big changes. The fine tuners on the tailpiece make small ones. Many student cellos have a fine tuner on every string, and some have one only on the A string. Turning a fine tuner clockwise raises the pitch and turning it counter-clockwise lowers it. A quarter turn is often enough.
03 Tune A first, then D, G and C
- Tune the A string to your tuner or reference note.
- Tune D, then G, then C. Bow or pluck each open string steadily and adjust until it reads in tune.
- Go round once more. Changing one string shifts the tension on the others a little, so a second pass usually needs only tiny corrections.
04 Using the pegs without slipping
Turn a peg in small movements and press it gently into the pegbox as you turn, so it holds. Tune up to the note: if a string is sharp, lower it a little below the note and bring it back up. A string tuned upwards is less likely to slip. If a peg will not hold or a string looks badly frayed, ask a teacher or a luthier rather than forcing it.
05 Check the bridge
Tuning pulls the top of the bridge towards the fingerboard. After a lot of tuning, look at it from the side. It should stand upright. If it leans noticeably, ask your teacher or a luthier to show you how to straighten it safely, because a fallen bridge can damage the instrument.
06 Check your fifths by ear
Once each string reads in tune, bow two neighbouring strings together, such as A and D. When the fifth is in tune, it sounds calm and steady. When it is slightly off, you hear a slow wobble, or beating. Adjust the lower string until the wobble slows and stops. This trains your ear for intonation, which matters every time you put a finger down.
07 Doing this with Soloist Cello
The free C–G–D–A tuner in Soloist Cello is built for the cello's low register. It shows how many cents each string is flat or sharp and suggests whether to use the fine tuner or the peg, and which way to turn. You can set the A4 reference and play a sustained drone to tune by ear. The tuner is free with no account, and listening runs on your iPhone.
Related reading
Questions
What are the notes of the cello strings?
From lowest to highest: C, G, D and A. In scientific pitch they are C2, G2, D3 and A3, each a fifth apart. With A4 at 440 Hz, the A string sounds at 220 Hz and the low C at about 65.4 Hz.
Should I use the pegs or the fine tuners?
Use the fine tuners for small corrections of a few cents. Use the pegs when a string is far off, has just been replaced, or the fine tuner has run out of thread.
Why does my phone tuner show the wrong note on the C string?
The low C is rich in overtones, and some general-purpose tuners lock onto an overtone and read the note an octave or a fifth too high. Bow a steady open string close to the phone, or use a tuner built for the cello's register.
How often should I tune my cello?
Check it every time you play. Strings drift with temperature, humidity and playing, so a quick check before each session is normal.