The bandurria is the lead voice of the rondalla, played with a pick and tuned entirely in fourths, and this bandurria tuner covers both common types. The Filipino bandurria has 14 strings in 6 courses: from the lowest, a single F♯3, a pair of B3, a pair of E4, and three strings each on A4, D5 and G5. It is tuned a whole step below the Spanish 12-string bandurria.
The tuner shows the six courses, recognizes which one you played and plays each reference note on request, so school and community rondallas can tune quickly on a phone.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and choose Filipino 14-string or Spanish 12-string in the Tuning menu.
- Pluck one string at a time and center the needle, then tune the rest of that course to the same note.
- Work from the lowest course (F♯) to the highest (G). The thin D and G strings break easily, so bring them up slowly.
- Strum all courses together: if one sounds wavy, a string in that course is still off.
Tuning a rondalla together
Agree on one reference before you start: every bandurria, octavina, laúd and guitar in the group should tune to the same A, normally 440 Hz. Tune with the same pick attack you play with, because a hard stroke pulls steel strings sharp for a moment. Since every course is a fourth apart, you can also check by ear: the 5th fret of each course matches the next open course.
Tips
- Mute the other courses with your left hand while tuning one string.
- Replace all strings of a course together so they age and hold pitch the same way.
- Retune between pieces; warm hands and stage lights detune it fast.
Frequently asked questions
How is a Filipino bandurria tuned?
From the lowest course: F♯ B E A D G (F♯3 B3 E4 A4 D5 G5), all in fourths.
Why does my bandurria have 14 strings?
The Filipino bandurria has a single bass string, two pairs and three triple courses: 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 14. All strings in a course share the same note.
What is the difference from the Spanish bandurria?
The Spanish bandurria has 12 strings in six pairs, tuned a whole step higher: G♯ C♯ F♯ B E A. Choose Spanish 12-string in the menu for it.
Can I use a guitar tuner for a bandurria?
A chromatic tuner works if you know each target note. This page already knows them and shows them on the string buttons.