The viola caipira is Brazil's 10-string folk guitar: five pairs of steel strings and the sound of música caipira, the country music of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Goiás. This viola caipira tuner hears through your microphone which pair you played and whether the string is flat or sharp. Pick the tuning by name (Cebolão in E, Cebolão in D, Rio Abaixo, Boiadeira, Natural, Rio Acima or Paraguaçu) and see the notes of all five pairs, with both notes of the octave pairs.
It isn't the orchestral viola: in English "viola" means the bowed instrument, which has its own viola tuner. This page is for Brazilians abroad who brought their viola along and for anyone curious about the instrument. Everything runs in your browser.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and allow access.
- Choose the song's tuning. If in doubt, start with Cebolão in E.
- Play one string at a time and let it ring. On the octave pairs, tune the thick string first and then the thin one: the tuner tells you which of the two it's reading.
- Up arrow (↑): tighten. Down arrow (↓): loosen. A pair gets a ✓ when its notes stay in the green.
- Tap a pair's button to hear its notes and lock the tuner onto it; Auto goes back to automatic detection.
Viola caipira tunings
From the 5th pair (the lowest) to the 1st: Cebolão in E, B E G♯ B E, an open E chord; Cebolão in D, A D F♯ A D, a whole step lower and with less tension; Rio Abaixo, G D G B D, an open G; Boiadeira, G D F♯ A D, a blend of Rio Abaixo and Cebolão; Natural, A D G B E, like the top five guitar strings; Rio Acima, G E G C E; and Paraguaçu, A D G B D, used by the repentistas, the improvising singers of Brazil's Northeast.
Octave pairs and unison pairs
The two high pairs (1st and 2nd) have two identical strings tuned in unison. On the three low pairs, the thick string comes with a thin one tuned an octave higher, which gives the viola its shimmer. Tune each string separately: the two strings of a pair should sound as one, without the wavering beat you hear when they disagree.
Tips
- Tune the thick strings first, then the thin string of each pair, and check them against each other by ear.
- Use a fingernail or a fingerpick to sound just one string of the pair; the flat of the thumb plays both.
- When switching from Cebolão in E to Cebolão in D, lower every string a whole step and check again after a few minutes.
- Always tune up to the note: the thin strings of the octave pairs are the ones that break most often.
Frequently asked questions
What is a viola caipira?
A Brazilian folk guitar with 10 steel strings in 5 pairs, a bit smaller than a guitar and played with the fingers. It descends from the Portuguese violas of colonial times and is the voice of música caipira, Brazil's rural folk and country music.
How do you tune a viola caipira?
Choose the tuning in the menu, play one string at a time and follow the arrow. Most beginners start with Cebolão in E: B E G♯ B E from the 5th pair to the 1st, with the three low pairs in octaves and the two high pairs in unison.
What is Cebolão tuning?
The most popular viola caipira tuning, an open E major chord: B E G♯ B E. Cebolão in D is the same a whole step lower (A D F♯ A D), with less tension and a warmer sound.
What is Rio Abaixo tuning?
An open G tuning, G D G B D from the 5th pair to the 1st, and one of the oldest viola tunings. Choose Rio Abaixo in the menu.
Why are some string pairs tuned an octave apart?
On the three low pairs, the thin string an octave above the thick one adds brightness and makes melodies ring out. Play the thick string alone and tune it, then the thin one: the tuner recognizes that it's an octave higher and shows the high note.
Is a viola caipira the same as a viola?
No. In English, "viola" means the bowed orchestral instrument tuned C G D A; for that one, use the viola tuner. For tunings not listed here, use the chromatic tuner.
Which viola caipira tuning is best for beginners?
Cebolão, in E or in D, because most songs and method books use it. If you already play guitar, Natural (A D G B E) feels familiar.