Online saz and bağlama tuner
The Turkish saz or bağlama groups strings into three courses. This page offers a seven-string bozuk example in physical upper, middle and lower order: G2/G3, D3/D3 and A2/A3/A3. It is not compulsory across the family; confirm the stringing and pitch level specified by your teacher or maker.
Strings in the bozuk example
Upper to lower course: a specific example at A4 = 440 Hz. Confirm the stringing and octaves of your instrument.
| Course | Strings | Sounding notes |
|---|---|---|
| Upper | 2, octaves | G2 + G3 |
| Middle | 2, unison | D3 + D3 |
| Lower | 3, including bass | A2 + A3 + A3 |
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.
Three courses are not seven different notes
In this example the upper course has G in two octaves, the middle has two D strings in unison, and the lower has a bass A and two higher A strings. This re-entrant layout does not follow ascending pitch order. Mute companions and measure each string individually.
The düzen sets relationships between courses; overall pitch varies with scale length, strings or a singer. Sala Muzik explains these variations. Checking open strings does not set fret positions or verify every pitch in a makam.
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
- Identify the bass string in each course: the name G or A alone does not tell you its octave.
- 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 saz tuning is included?
A seven-string bozuk/kara düzen example: upper G2/G3, middle D3/D3 and lower A2/A3/A3. Transpose only when your stringing suits the chosen pitch level.
Can I use it for a short-neck bağlama?
Free mode can check the notes of your own düzen. The seven-string example is not a universal short-neck tuning; your arrangement and pitch level may differ.
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.