Cittern tuner online — GDADA
This modern ten-string cittern preset is G2 D3 A3 D4 A4, from the lowest course to the highest. Five courses contain two strings each; this preset treats every pair as unison. It follows the GDADA modern-cittern layout described by builder Davy Stuart.
Open-string notes and frequencies
Modern ten-string cittern, GDADA in five unison courses, low to high. A4=440 Hz.
| String / course | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | G2 + G2 | 98.00 + 98.00 |
| 4 | D3 + D3 | 146.83 + 146.83 |
| 3 | A3 + A3 | 220.00 + 220.00 |
| 2 | D4 + D4 | 293.66 + 293.66 |
| 1 | A4 + A4 | 440.00 + 440.00 |
How to use it
- Confirm GDADA and unison pairs against the maker’s setup or string packet.
- Allow the microphone and mute one partner of the lowest course.
- Tune the sounding string to G2, then swap partners.
- Continue through D3, A3, D4 and the high A4 course.
- Sound each complete pair, then check the whole open layout.
Help and explanations
There is no single tuning for every instrument called a cittern. A Renaissance cittern, a four-course instrument and a modern five-course folk cittern can need different targets. Confirm the maker’s pitch layout, string gauges and pairing before using these five course buttons.
The extra course needs its own octave check
The two A courses are not the same pitch: A3 is 220 Hz and the upper A4 is 440 Hz at this reference. D3 and D4 likewise lie an octave apart. A tuner that displays only the letters GDADA cannot show that distinction. Pick one string at a time and verify the number after the letter, especially when the instrument has been restrung or arrived detuned.
Modern builders also list tunings such as GDAEA, CGDAE and DGDAD. Those spellings are useful clues, but they do not tell you every octave or whether a low course has a thinner octave partner. Use the maker’s full chart with the chromatic tuner for those layouts. Do not copy this preset onto a historical cittern solely because the instrument name matches. On a paired instrument, silence the neighbour while measuring; tune the pair together by ear only after its two individual targets are established.
Tips
- Check both upper A4 strings separately rather than matching them to A3.
- Keep course numbering separate from the ten individual tuning pegs.
- If a course contains a noticeably thinner partner, verify whether it is octave-strung.
Frequently asked questions
How is a modern ten-string cittern tuned?
One useful modern layout is G2 D3 A3 D4 A4. This preset supplies that GDADA arrangement in five unison pairs.
Do all citterns use GDADA?
No. Modern makers offer several tunings, and historical citterns can have quite different layouts. Follow the maker’s specification.
Does ten strings mean ten different notes?
Here it means five two-string courses. Each unison pair shares a pitch, but both individual strings need tuning.
What octave is the highest A on this cittern?
A4, 440 Hz at the A440 reference. The middle A course is A3, one octave lower.
Can I use this for a Renaissance cittern?
Use a period-specific tuning chart and the chromatic tuner. The five-course GDADA preset is for a modern folk cittern.
Can I select CGDAE or DGDAD here?
This page supplies GDADA only. For another layout, use the maker’s individual notes and octaves with the chromatic tuner.