Online 16-string lyre tuner
The modern 16-string lyre profile follows the diatonic G3–A5 map documented for the Harley Benton LH16N. Its notes are G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5. This page numbers them from the lowest pitch; check the markings on your model.
16-string diatonic lyre map
Lowest to highest, following the LH16N model. Frequencies calculated in equal temperament at A4 = 440 Hz.
| String | Sounding note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G3 | 196.00 |
| 2 | A3 | 220.00 |
| 3 | B3 | 246.94 |
| 4 | C4 | 261.63 |
| 5 | D4 | 293.66 |
| 6 | E4 | 329.63 |
| 7 | F4 | 349.23 |
| 8 | G4 | 392.00 |
| 9 | A4 | 440.00 |
| 10 | B4 | 493.88 |
| 11 | C5 | 523.25 |
| 12 | D5 | 587.33 |
| 13 | E5 | 659.26 |
| 14 | F5 | 698.46 |
| 15 | G5 | 783.99 |
| 16 | A5 | 880.00 |
How to use it
- Select your instrument's profile; in free mode, set the manual target note and octave.
- Set A4, transposition and cents to match a known reference, then enable the microphone.
- Isolate one string, mute its neighbours and play gently. Wait for a stable reading after the attack.
- Check note, octave and cents before moving the peg or pin slowly. Repeat for every string.
Help and explanations
The microphone measures one note at a time and displays frequency and deviation in cents. Check the octave as well as the note name: a string in another register can appear in tune. Hear the target before adjusting, then stop the reference tone while measuring your string.
String count and note layout
Seven-, ten- or nineteen-string lyres may use different registers or scales. String count alone does not determine tuning. If your manual specifies another sequence, select each target in free mode; do not force a small model to reach the register of this example.
Tablature labels may name scale degrees rather than physical string numbers. C4 is the fourth note in this list, although number notation may call it degree 1. If a piece needs an accidental, check the arrangement before retuning: a lyre does not necessarily have harp levers.
Reference pitch, transposition and capture
A4 starts at 440 Hz; changing it shifts all references. Transposition moves targets in semitones, while cents add a small offset. In string profiles, capture recalculates A4 from the first target, even when another string is selected. In free mode, select the manual note and octave before capturing. This follows a known sound rather than discovering a traditional tuning automatically.
Tips
- Seat the tuning key fully on the pin and make small movements without pressing against the wood.
- Measure close to the microphone in a quiet place, and stop reference tones while listening to your string.
- Check the tuning again after the first pass: tension and temperature can move strings already measured.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tuning for a 16-string lyre?
This profile uses natural notes from G3 to A5, as documented for the Harley Benton LH16N. It does not mean every sixteen-string lyre must use this layout.
Can I use it for a seven-string lyre?
Yes, in free mode with targets specified by its maker. Pentatonic, historical and therapeutic lyres can use scales different from this diatonic map.
What does capturing a reference do?
Capture recalibrates A4 from the first target in a string profile. In free mode, its anchor is the selected manual target, including during automatic detection. Check that note and octave before capturing.
Why does the display show another octave?
Other strings, resonance and harmonics can dominate the reading. Mute other sounds and play again. Do not tighten a string by a whole octave just to follow an unstable reading.