Laud tuner: Philippine rondalla laúd
The Philippine laúd, usually written laud, is the steel-strung, pick-played lute of the rondalla, next to the bandurria, octavina, guitar and bass. It has 14 strings in 6 courses, tuned in fourths: F♯2 B2 E3 A3 D4 G4 from the low single string to the highest course. That is exactly the bandurria tuning one octave lower; the 1st course is the first G above middle C.
Philippine laúd: course notes and frequencies
Standard rondalla tuning, 14 strings in 6 unison courses, equal-tempered frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz.
| Course | Sounding note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (single) | F♯2 | 92.50 |
| 5th (double) | B2 | 123.47 |
| 4th (double) | E3 | 164.81 |
| 3rd (triple) | A3 | 220.00 |
| 2nd (triple) | D4 | 293.66 |
| 1st (triple) | G4 | 392.00 |
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and allow access. The Tuning menu opens on the Philippine 14-string standard.
- Pluck one open string with the pick and let it ring. Auto finds the course; tap a course button to lock it and press Play to hear the target.
- On double and triple courses, rest a fingertip on the other strings so the microphone hears only one, and tune each string to the same note.
- Strum each finished course: a slow wah-wah beat means one string is still off. Then go through all 14 strings once more.
Help and explanations
The 6th course is a single string, the 5th and 4th are pairs, and the 3rd, 2nd and 1st have three strings each, all in unison. The Spanish laúd is a different instrument: 12 strings in six pairs tuned G♯2 C♯3 F♯3 B3 E4 A4, a whole tone higher. Choose it in Tuning if you play a Spanish-made laúd.
Tuning the laúd by ear in the rondalla
Every interval on the laúd is a perfect fourth, with no exception as on the guitar. Fret 5 of each course matches the next higher open course: F♯2 to B2, B2 to E3, E3 to A3, A3 to D4 and D4 to G4. Start from A3 at 220 Hz, or from a reference agreed with the group, usually A4 = 440 Hz.
The laúd and the octavina share exactly the same notes and can be tuned to each other in unison. The bandurria sounds one octave higher, so the laúd's 12th fret should match the bandurria's open course. To match a guitarist, laúd courses 6 to 3 are guitar strings 6 to 3 at the 2nd fret, and courses 2 and 1 are guitar strings 2 and 1 at the 3rd fret.
Philippine or Spanish laúd?
Count the strings. A Philippine laúd has 14, with triple courses on top, and usually two f-holes; a Spanish laúd has 12 in six double courses. Their tunings differ by a whole tone on every course: Philippine G D A E B F♯ from the 1st course down, Spanish A E B F♯ C♯ G♯. A laúd tuned the Spanish way will not match a Philippine rondalla.
In the menu, triple courses appear as one course button: tune each of the three strings to that note, one at a time. The 1st course is G4, about 392 Hz, not G5: aiming for the bandurria's octave would put dangerous tension on the strings.
Tips
- Approach each note from below: if a string goes sharp, loosen it past the target and tighten back up.
- New steel strings stretch, so expect to retune often during the first days.
- Hold the phone 20–30 cm from the soundholes in a quiet room, and pluck the low F♯2 firmly before reading.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard Philippine laud tuning?
F♯2, B2, E3, A3, D4 and G4 from the 6th course to the 1st, in fourths. It is the bandurria tuning one octave lower.
How many strings does a laud have?
The Philippine laúd has 14: one single, two double and three triple courses. The Spanish laúd has 12 in six pairs.
Is the octavina tuned like the laud?
Yes. The octavina uses exactly the same notes, so both can play the same parts in the rondalla and tune to each other in unison.
Why does a Spanish laúd sound higher?
Its standard tuning, G♯ C♯ F♯ B E A, is a whole tone above the Philippine F♯ B E A D G on every course.