Kecapi tuner for the Sundanese kacapi

Strings 6–11 first, the rest by octaves

Nanang Jaenudin of ISBI Bandung (2024) describes a popular 2019 video tutorial: strings 6–11 (da, mi, na, ti, la, da) are tuned with a tuner, then the rest are matched by ear.

On an 18-string kacapi indung that gives G5, F♯5, D5, C5, B4 for strings 1–5 and F♯3, D3, C3, B2, G2, F♯2, D2 for strings 12–18. These are derived, not from the tutorial, but a kacapi siter with da = G (Dewa Ruci journal, 2025) also has G5 at the top and D2 as its 18th tone.

The pitch of da, the suling and the reference

The surupan, or starting pitch, comes from the suling or gamelan; in tembang Sunda Cianjuran, from a six-hole suling of 60, 61 or 62 cm. Jurnal Panggung (2026) lists da at 729.2 Hz (60 cm), 716.3 Hz (61 cm) and 696.9 Hz (62 cm), and two other 60 cm suling measured 740 and 747 Hz. Suling of the same length can differ by about 25 cents.

Transpose 0 means da = G, −1 F♯ (suling 60), −2 F (more or less standard in Cianjuran, says Wim van Zanten) and +1 G♯ (suling 54, an estimate). For a 61 cm suling, between F and F♯, use −2 with an offset of about +44 cents, or capture it. For 18 strings at suling 60, use the da = G profile at −1.

Laras madenda (sorog)

For madenda, raise strings 3, 8, 13 and 18 by a whole tone: string 8 goes from C♯4 to D♯4 with suling 60, from D4 to E4 with da = G. The da = G madenda profile has medium confidence: the rule is well sourced, but no source gives these exact notes in G.

Schools and ISBI number madenda relatively (string 6 = 3 na, then 4 ti, 5 la, 1 da, 2 mi); many players number absolutely (string 6 = 1). The tuner shows relative numbers.

Laras salendro: only da is fixed

In Cianjuran only the salendro da comes from the suling; players set tones 2 to 5 by ear. Artists such as Caca Sopandi prefer the equal-step padantara salendro of 240 cents, but that is a model: van Zanten measured slight deviations on real zithers.

With a green zone of only ±5 cents, the tuner has no salendro profile. Starting points for da = F♯: mi near E −40 cents (322.1 Hz), na C♯ +20 (280.4 Hz), ti B −20 (244.1 Hz), la G♯ +40 (212.5 Hz). Use free mode with the offset, then finish by ear.

Tuners and the Western scale

ISBI researchers ask for degung tuning by Western notes to be reconsidered: its similarity to do-mi-fa-sol-si-do is 89% in Kusumadinata's theory but 69% and 86% on two measured 60 cm suling. Van Zanten, by contrast, found equal temperament a fair fit for Cianjuran pelog and sorog.

Batak kecapi, Dayak kecapi and sape'

"Kecapi Batak" usually means the hasapi, a fretless two-string Toba Batak lute whose relative tuning varies by source and occasion. The Dayak kecapi of Central Kalimantan, used in karungut, has two or three strings tuned by ear. For both, use the free chromatic mode or the chromatic tuner. The sape' is a different instrument. Similar zither: the guzheng tuner.

Tips

• Tune up to the note, never down to it.
• Thin high strings break easily: check the octave before tightening.
• Finally, recheck the da strings (1, 6, 11, 16); strings tuned first often drift.