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How do you tune a violin with a tuning fork? Help!?
First of all, if you play any string instrument and know how to tune with a fork please answer this question!
I know the method of how to tune with a fork, but please help me with a few problems? When I tune I take such a long time and always end up playing the notes so many times that I totally confuse myself and I feel as though I can’t tell the difference between any notes. I tap the tuning fork, listen to it, and I think I get the note and start tuning. When I think the string’s in tune, I listen to the fork again, and it’s totally out.
Does anyone have any practical advice for me? I know that I need to practice, but do you have anything I can follow or that I can do to help? Please don’t suggest an electronic tuner because I would rather learnt to rely on my ear. As you can see, I definitely don’t have perfect pitch.
Thanks so much!
First off, you will get better with practice, so don’t panic.
1) When you bang your tuning fork, hold it between your teeth. The sound will last a long, long time and you’ll have plenty of time to tune. Don’t rush it, perfectionism and fussiness is a huge plus in violin playing. Bow the A string with the vibrating fork held between your teeth; when it quits being dissonant you’ll literally feel it.
2) From the A string, think “Twinkle, Twinkle” and tune from there. The E string is a fifth above, the D a fifth below, and the G a fifth below that, so the progression of “Twinkle, Twinkle” follows each string. Check the E and D strings with the tuner, using the method above. You can literally feel those perfect fifths come into tune.
3) New strings will tend to stretch for a week or ten days. Loose pegs can be a problem; peg dope or chalk will give them some sticking power. A fine tuner on a couple of strings that give you trouble might not be a bad idea, either; some people look down on those that use fine tuners but I think the extra control is worth a few snooty looks. Also don’t forget that temperature and humidity play a large part as well. If you’re moving your violin from extremes, give it five minutes or so to adjust before you start tuning (I notice when my humidity is too low because my piano starts to go out of tune, as soon as I plug in the humidifier, the piano is in tune again). Use a dampit or other humidifier in your case (I don’t recommend it inside the violin) and keep the humidity in your case around 50%.
Violin Lesson #42; Introduction to Double-Stops pt.2
