Venezuelan cuatro tuner
This Venezuelan cuatro tuner works for the cuatro criollo and the Colombian cuatro llanero: four nylon strings tuned A D F♯ B, from the 4th to the 1st. The trick is that the 1st string, B, is not the highest: it sounds lower than the 2nd and 3rd strings.
String notes and frequencies
Cuatro tuning, standard Venezuelan (A D F♯ B) (4 strings): A3 D4 F♯4 B3, from 220.00 Hz to 369.99 Hz, with A4 = 440 Hz.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| String 4 | A3 | 220.00 |
| String 3 | D4 | 293.66 |
| String 2 | F♯4 | 369.99 |
| String 1 | B3 | 246.94 |
How to use it
- Press Turn on microphone and allow access. The list starts on Venezuelan cuatro.
- Pluck one open string and let it ring: its button lights up and the needle shows how far off it is.
- Up arrow (↑) flat: tighten. Down arrow (↓) sharp: loosen. When it turns green, the string is marked with ✓.
- For the Puerto Rican cuatro, change the list: you will see both notes of the octave pairs.
Help and explanations
The tuner already knows this re-entrant tuning: play an open string and it tells you which one it is and whether to tighten or loosen it. The list also has the Puerto Rican cuatro, with 10 strings in 5 courses.
Notes of the Venezuelan cuatro
From the 4th to the 1st string: A3 220 Hz, D4 293.7 Hz, F♯4 370 Hz and B3 246.9 Hz. It is the same sequence as a ukulele tuned in D, but with the A and the B one octave lower. The four open strings make a B minor seventh chord (B D F♯ A).
Puerto Rican cuatro
It has 10 metal strings in 5 courses tuned in fourths: B E A D G. The two low courses are in octaves (B2 + B3, E3 + E4) and the three high courses in unison (A3, D4 and G4). It also has its own page: the Puerto Rican cuatro tuner.
Tips
- Nylon strings stretch a lot at first: tune again several times on the first day.
- To check the B by ear: the 2nd string (F♯) pressed at the 5th fret gives a B, one octave above your 1st string.
- Always tune up to the note: the string stays more stable that way.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Venezuelan cuatro tuned?
A D F♯ B, from the 4th string to the 1st. The 1st string, B3, is lower than the 2nd and 3rd, which is why the tuning is called re-entrant.
Is the cuatro llanero tuned the same way?
Yes. The Colombian cuatro llanero is the same joropo instrument and uses the same A D F♯ B tuning.
Can I tune the cuatro with my phone?
Yes: open this page in your phone's browser, turn on the microphone and play each string. There is no app to install.
What is the difference between the Venezuelan and the Puerto Rican cuatro?
The Venezuelan cuatro has 4 nylon strings (A D F♯ B); the Puerto Rican one has 10 metal strings in 5 courses (B E A D G). Both are in the list.