Hardanger fiddle tuner
This Hardanger fiddle tuner covers the four playing strings, not the complete sympathetic-string set. It opens with B3–E4–B4–F♯5, a raised-bass arrangement whose kvart is B4.
Open-string notes and frequencies
Hardanger fiddle: Raised bass · B3 E4 B4 F♯5. Four playing strings only; tune the understrings separately. Equal-tempered frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; the live targets follow the selected A reference.
| String / course | Sounding note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | B3 | 246.94 |
| Ters | E4 | 329.63 |
| Kvart | B4 | 493.88 |
| Kvint | F♯5 | 739.99 |
How to use it
- Confirm the required tuning and sounding kvart pitch with your teacher or the tune’s source.
- Choose B–E–B–F♯ or the lower A–D–A–E example to match that pitch level.
- Select the kvart button, then bow its open string with a steady stroke.
- Tune bass, ters and kvint individually before listening to the open-string intervals.
- Pluck and tune the understrings separately from their own chart, then check their resonance while bowing.
Help and explanations
The lower A3–D4–A4–E5 option preserves that pattern at another pitch level. Hardanger players often use nominal A–D–A–E names while their actual kvart sounds higher. The HFAA describes variation in this pitch, so compare sounding notes rather than string names alone.
String names are not fixed sounding pitches
Bass, ters, kvart and kvint identify the four playing strings. They are useful names even when the actual notes have moved. A violin preset that assumes G3–D4–A4–E5 will not describe a raised-bass hardingfele tuned with its kvart at B4. The two presets here specify actual octaves so the reference tones remain unambiguous.
HFAA’s guide lists many tunings, including tune-specific alternatives. The quartet shown here is only one interval pattern at two pitch levels. For a different scordatura or a kvart between the supplied pitches, establish the agreed reference and use the chromatic tuner. Do not treat the menu as a complete catalogue of Hardanger tunings.
Finish by listening to the understrings
Hardanger fiddles commonly have four or five strings beneath the fingerboard. Their notes depend on the upper-string tuning and the music: use HFAA’s tuning guide for the appropriate arrangement. This page’s four buttons and completion indicator count only the bowed strings; they do not prove the understrings are tuned.
First measure a single string to give the microphone a clean signal. Then listen to double stops and to the sympathetic response, as HFAA’s tuning procedure recommends. The displayed references are equal-tempered pitches. The pure intervals preferred in traditional solo playing can require small adjustments by ear. Use the instrument’s correct Hardanger string set before considering a raised pitch.
Tips
- Trace the understring to its peg instead of guessing from peg position.
- Avoid changing several tuning systems quickly when the instrument is still settling.
- A green reading is a starting point; listen to the interval and sympathetic response.
Frequently asked questions
What tuning does this Hardanger tuner use?
B3 E4 B4 F♯5 for the bowed strings, with A3 D4 A4 E5 as a lower-pitched version of the same pattern.
Why is the A string showing B?
Kvart is the traditional string name; its sounding pitch may be raised to B or another chosen level.
Does it tune all eight or nine strings?
The presets cover four playing strings. Tune the four or five understrings separately from the appropriate chart.
Is this standard violin tuning?
No. Raised bass changes the lowest string and the overall pitch level can also differ.
Are the reference intervals pure?
The references use equal temperament. Traditional interval tuning may need a final adjustment by ear.