User Recommended Viola Tuners
StroboClip HDC
$79.99
StroboStomp LE
$169.00
StroboPLUS HDC
$179.99
StroboStomp HD
$149.00
StroboClip HD
$59.99
StroboPLUS HD
$149.99
iStroboSoft™ (iOS)
$9.99
StroboSoft 2.0
$49.99 - $99.99
Strobe Tuning a Viola
Like violinists, Violists have a love/hate relationship with electronic tuners for good reason, up to now most electronic tuners made are not suitable for tuning a viola, the interval spacing between the strings of a viola is slightly wider than electronic tuners indicate, this is astonishingly true even for tuners which are marketed specifically to violists!
The viola, which many believe to have predated the violin, is tuned to the notes C G D A with the lowest open string pitch being C and the highest pitch being A. The intervals C to G, G to D and D to A on a correctly tuned viola are all Perfect Fifth intervals. The interval C to G, G to D and D to A on an electronic tuner are Equally Tempered Fifths, so what does that mean?
The notes that make a perfect fifth interval are in total consonance with one another, there is no oscillation or beating heard when played together. The notes that make up an equally tempered fifth are not in consonance with one another and a slight oscillation or beating will be heard when played together. Equally Tempered fifths are 1.9 cents narrower than perfect fifths and the cumulative error caused by tuning using a tuner without a Viola Sweetener can be as much as eight cents in the case of a five string viola, a totally unacceptable result.
The result is that violists don’t like tuners, they tune by ear. Tuning by ear is not a problem when time and ambient noise allows. It is however a problem when working professionally in an orchestra pit, studio or live situation where time is tight, standards exacting and conditions less than optimal.
If you are someone who plays professionally, then tuning will be a consideration and a tuner that works professionally is what you need. Peterson tuners feature the correct interval tuning target displays for viola, just dial in the VLA Sweetener and let the tuner do the work for you!
Begin with the first string A, it’s located closest to the bow when holding the viola in the normal playing position.