Violin Lesson #35; Tuning the Violin pt.1 (see description)

[valko007]

he spent 10 min talking about tuning a violin, i am glad you are not charging by the hour,

[valko007]

oh wow he make,s it sound like flying a rocket.

[music101R]

Wow epic fail I snapped my string trying to fix the peg the way he said to

[blackturncoat]

It was FIVE MINUTES before this guy plucked the first string! I don't want a history of violins, characteristics of wood or what strings are made of or how to BUILD one, I just want to tune the thing!

[BLacK8KittY]

i kno how to tune alrigh!!!! i only wanna kno the sound so i can tune it!!! plz tell me if theres any free sites....

[CHADSHIN1]

hi my violin only has one fine tuner on the E string, but how do i tune the other strings without breaking them? im a begginer...

[ChocolateThunder551]

Hello. I'm a 13 year old Student . And I have a Violin I havent played in a while.. Its kinda hard for me to tune it.. Is there like a EVEN easier way?

[unlacedmalkavian]

I broke my E string... while watching this video... epic fail on my part.

[Prodigyviolinist]

I enjoy all your profesional lessons.... Thank you.

[JakkaLakkaDingDing]

It seems each time I tune a string, another one drastically drops in tune, so I can only ever get 3 strings to be slightly in tune. I play guitar and the part at the bottom with the tuning screws on it, reminds me of a floyd rose. Is it anything like that? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

[FrozenMelvin]

! :D Thanks you! You solved my "Lose Peg" Problem!

(violin in my second musical instrument)

[gotenks705]

the reason why guitar strings are much less cheaper is because they rip easly and the voilin strings dont snap easly

[smashmouthego]

i havnt played for 6 years. I lost my stash of rosin and have no idea where my bow is. I spent hundreds on that bow! gahh.

[geetarxist]

good job

[dong9589]

im scared of snapping the e string since it happened before :(

HELP!!

also can i take the string out and then put it back in ?

can u please help ??? :(

[geetarxist]

good job

[hannahmontanasux123]

how come when i try to adjust the pegs and let go, it just snapps back into the position it was in before?

[StudioLORE]

@hannahmontanasux123 When tuning, you need to push the pegs further into the neck of the violin so that they stay. If it becomes a real pain, then the peg isn't sticky (Unknown term needed instead of 'sticky) enough.

[TripKhoang]

Thumbs up if the video comment from the "expertvillage Tuning Lesson Video" sent you here!

[mockingjayable]

The problem is, I don't have the four fine tuners -.-

[Kuoted]

I still got tuners for E and A

[pinoy231]

His violin has a chin rest in the middle of the violin!

[iluvKH4eva]

What if you don't have a teacher? What if you're teaching yourself? Like me? I really need some help, but my dad won't pay for lessons and I really want to learn... I got a new violin with the finetuners though.

[newmanlover1]

i want to know how you fix a violin when it gets cold and untunes can you make a video for that please

[TheVanael]

y i cant play my violin? i cant even make a sound? how can i tune it i dont know how..pls..help me..

[TFmaster75]

@TheVanael did u rosin the bow????

[TheVanael]

@TFmaster75 i'm needing but i cant sind my rosin but when i have a lesson i found iit!

[ifrit1780]

=.= I snapped some strings before... So I'm a bit afraid.

[ThePrayerHotline]

Lolz thanks professorV. It took me two days to tune the violin. But I really started from scratch. I didnt even know how to use the electronic chromatic violin tuner. I eventually figured it out after a day and started tuning. Then the pegs keep coming loose. I didnt know I had to push them in. It just dawned on me to push it in. I could tune the "A" string with no problem but the rest I didnt know until i viewed another video which tuned one string at a time like tuning the "A"

[ThePrayerHotline]

lolz this is a lot harder than I thought it is. Please pluck each string separately with out any finger on the fingerboard and from there I could distinguish if it sounds the same.from mine then I will know if its tuned

[professorV]

Hi ThePrayerHotline, I give the pitches in this video: Violin Method: Tuning Your Violin (preparing for violin lesson #1) . Good luck!

[Ju1ceem4n]

so the thickes string is called E? and second thichest A? second thinest D? and thinest g?

[professorV]

Hi Ju1ceem4n, The thickest string is the G, then D, A and E is the thinest.

[Ju1ceem4n]

@professorV oh ok so its kinda oposit from guitar... yeah i thought it was like guitar so yea..... well here is another question.... if the violin has already been tuned and stringed (meaning it has ajusted already) then i dont need to really worry about the way i turn the nut right? and do i need fine tuning too?

[Jok3tt3sPuff]

I din't know you have a violin

[Nijiyume]

I have a pitch pipe and i just one day tuned it by ear.. and i had no clue it was so complicated actually the strings should not rub against the peg box wall.. and the pegs should ALL (all of them?) be horizontal right? how often do you use the fine tuners? because when i use them i cant tell any difference even when i screw them pretty far. an old teacher told me i shouldnt even use the fine tuners? is this true? sorry for all the questions. please answer :/

[GundamTotema]

ME TOO!!!!

[joniguitar9]

Can you do alternate tunings for violin as guitarists have several different tunings available to them? Thanks! Joni

[professorV]

Hi, From thickest string to thinest (lowest pitch to highest or left to right when looking down the fingerboard): GDAE.

A full-size violin is called 4/4. They are all very similar in size.

[Violinfanatic]

@professorV Many professionals are using fine tuners these days. Pegs can be annoying. They get tight. They pop out place. They easily put the strings out of tune. Yuri Bashmet has fine tuners on his viola!  So, I don't think we should give the idea that just because someone uses fine tuners, they're not at a professional level. Someone who uses fine tuners likes to be in tune. Pegs don't always do it! Fine tuners take the stress out of tuning! Go Yuri Bashmet for setting the standard!!

[TheJacktheRipper]

While I am just starting out on the violin, while I wait for a teacher, I'm practicing tuning the instrument daily. Thank you for these lessons, they are stellar!

[br289165]

I viewed the other tuning videos and none of them mentioned loosening and pulling the strings to get the pegs vertical, until this one I thought my new violin was useless. Excellent advice, thanks!

[professorV]

Hi br289165, you are welcome. Good luck with your violin!

[cursedreject]

i had to move my bridge so when i tried to retune my violin , the E string snapped and cut my finger :[

why are violin strings so expensive and guitar strings are so much longer and cheaper

[erietigers91]

I think it is because violin strings are steel. Guitar is cheaper because it s made out of something different (i think)

[cursedreject]

@erietigers91 nah guitar strings are steel too

more commonly used than nylon anyway

[MrJJHC]

guitar strings are the same but the thing about violin thing is that different strings produce different sounds for example most beginners use the RED LABEL from whatever it is but i changed my strings and it sounds so muchh better guitar strings i think they just feel different dont know about the sound quality of guitar strings. i just know they feel different :)

[gillbill123]

@cursedreject i got strings for £6.99 i thaught that wasn't bad

[cursedreject]

@gillbill123 yeah i was looking at a higher end one i guess haha

i got some around 6 or 8 dollars

[MichaelJordanable]

@cursedreject

wtf where is your finger now?

[mastershine123]

i only have two fine tuners, for the A and E strings. my teacher told me the other two strings don't really need the fine tuners... now i'm wondering who has better judgment.

[handelviola]

Hi Professor,

can you go into more details about reeks and flutter when tuning, you mentioned it toward the end of the video. thanks

s

[shawking]

haha thats the only suck about violin but if your good at playing your awsome!!

[shawking]

Tuning the violin is sooo scary especially when i bought a new set which is expensive cuz tuning the 1st and 2nd breaks easily,... how can i avoid this?

[mynameisnicd]

Dear Professor V, how do i use the fine tuners if the string sounds so differently or if it sounds too far? Should i use the pegs first? Like tune it close enough then fix it with the fine tuners?

[professorV]

Yes, use the pegs if you can match the pitch by ear, just be careful not to go too high or you might break the string. The fine tuners should just be for small adjustments.

Remember to push the peg "in" as you turn, otherwise it may just unwind when you let go. Good luck!

[Megredy]

should there only be one fine tuner or should i get 3 more????????

[professorV]

Hi Megredy, Students will be better off with 4 fine tuners, just because tuning is difficult. Most advanced/professional classical violinists only use a fine tuner for the E. This is because they usually choose nylon or gut strings, wound with silver or nickel. This type of string doesn't work as well with the tuners. Fine tuners also reduce the string length, which can rob the violin of some volume.

Most country and folk fiddlers use steel strings which work well with fine tuners.

[fire9132]

Use the pegs then

[tylerj26]

yeah.. unless you want to change the tuning. :P

[tylerj26]

unless it's a floyd rose...

that's a whole nother ball game. lol

[mjdvids1128]

not really

[quutamo87]

if my violin strings are waaaay to long, do I have to cut them?? caus they are long as strings guitars!! well... almost =P

[LenntBear]

Me too crap XD

[shawking]

me three its so scary cuz its soo expensive especially tuning the E

[SingingDevil666]

I understand, but i just cant do it =[ :s I got an electric violin today =] But im having BIG trouble tuning it and stuff :s

[Rialas]

Just recently started using gut strings. Your advice on keeping the pegs vertical is extremely useful. Thanks.

[fdapproved16]

whoa iatemyshortz i hate tuning 2 and i can only use the fine adjustment knobs. Very confusing process, but okay.

[viel011]

I can't tune my violin because the Loop in the tail piece keeps sliding, how do I fix it?? I tried looking for a new tail piece but can't fin anyone selling it. Help!! by the way thank you for the tips, frankly I'm scared of tuning XD

[Kal2021]

ill start useing hte fine tunner but when ever i try to tune it hte bridge snaps down >.>....my teacher broked it!!!!!....lol she doesnt play violin tho shes a high school teacher :P

[whenthereisnotv]

Anyone knows any online A tunes so that I can match my A with it?

[naruteko]

lol! i have trouble tuning sometimes and i have like 6 to like 7 years of experince... and i kinda suck at it... and just today i toke it out and;... all the strings were out of tune horriblally... like.. it was really damp...

[CrayonThrower]

I'm gonna kill someone -_-

I just broke my A string.

-sniff- Its like an hour away to the nearest

Music store ahHH!!!! lol

[BlueChani93]

lol it happened to me once. u should keep a set of strings for reserve

[nigologue]

haha sucks if you had really expensive strings

[shawking]

tell me about it hahah i yesterday i bought a set and broke d a string and now when i come back to the strore they dont have the cheaper ones they have the expensive one but good thing wehn i tune it today nothing broke advice i think when you tune the E string tune it to i whole step down or in other words D then tune it using fine tuner

[Odonnolly]

Ugh, I just broke my A string... lol!

Great advice, you're a good teacher.

:)

[KellyTheAlien]

I'm way too scared to use the pegs because it'll either loosen, slip, or break. Is it possible just to use the fine tuners?

[professorV]

Agreed, it is spooky. I recommend fine tuners at first, but if you keep tightening them, eventually they will run into the top of the violin, you'll be forced to use the pegs. Look in my favorites for a video on tuning. It's much more basic than what I've presented here. Good luck!

[abnerzeus]

Allright, I will try this. It is not old at all because I bought it today! rsrs.. But it was a cheap one and I was worried if it might be a matter of quality.. thanks for the response!

[abnerzeus]

Hello there, I am having troubles tuning my violin. The first string just wont hold the E note, it loosens up right away. Is it something that I am not doing right or it's the violin that is not good enough: Thanks

[professorV]

Try winding the string around the peg so that it ends up right next to the side that the peg head is on, then push in as you tighten it. It should stay, assuming the peg is cut correctly and isn't very old (they do wear out eventually).

[GoatRoper92]

Can I use my guitar tuner to tune it? And If i can how do i do it?

[professorV]

hmmm, maybe. If it's designed just for guitar, I doubt it will work. Is this a "plug-in" type tuner or does it have a built in mic? If it's a plug-in, you'll be out of luck. If it has a mic, try playing the bottom note on the violin - the tuner should recognize it as a G since it is the same pitch and octave as the 4th string of the guitar. The other notes may not work since they are not in the same octave (the violin notes are higher versions of D A and E). Give it a try though.

[crazyredhd]

Hi Pof V... I am trying to follow your video's in order... can't quite figure out what the order is! is there any way you can put them in order? or at least give us a key as to what #& part follows what?

I really appreciate this lesson information... I like this format.

[professorV]

Hi crazyredhd! When I started this project I had no intention of making a "method" taking someone from point A-Z, instead, I just picked topics that my own students were working on. I realize it is difficult to follow, but if you look at the title of each video I put a number after "violin lesson". This should give you some sense of organization, although it is far from perfect. Hope this helps!

[betatan]

Hello professorV, just wanted to ask a question. I must say I didnt know there were different type of strings for a violin, for instance you mentioned steel and synthetic strings, could you point out the differences/advantages between them? Thanks in advanced.

[professorV]

Hi Betatan, Many students use steel strings because they last a long time and work with fine tuners. There are some high quality steel strings but some of the cheapest strings are also made of steel. They tend to be very bright sounding, with a quick response. They are not very rich sounding though.

[professorV]

Steel is good for pure volume and became popular with fiddler (folk) players as soon as they were introduced. Wound gut strings are very rich and sweet sounding, but are always going out of tune (they stretch). Moisture really effects them as well. You would not use fine tuners with this type of string.

[professorV]

Synthetic strings (like Dominant)have a core made out of nylon. They are not as bright as steel, but much more stable than gut. They are easily the most popular type of string for Classical violinists. Synthetic strings are not designed to be used with fine tuners (except for the E).

[betatan]

Hello professorV, just wanted to ask a question. I must say I didnt know there were different type of strings for a violin, for instance you mentioned steel and synthetic strings, could you point out the differences/advantages between them? Thanks in advanced.

[pikachoi2007]

Im using pitch pipe to tune my violin, but I had two violin teacher, they just hum.

which is better to have fine tuners on the tail piece or not?

[professorV]

If you need fine tuners - use them. It's better then breaking strings! Once you can tune with the pegs you can take them off.

[professorV]

I should have mentioned that if you use steel strings you NEED the fine tuners. Only take them off if you want to use synthetic strings or wound gut. Fiddle players (folk musicians, not classical) almost always use four fine tuners.

[pikachoi2007]

Mr Todd, which string do you prefer? i guess i dont like much the steel strings. I leave one fine tuner on my E string. no fine tuners on the rest. I find them kinda making alot of noise more? i mean they make the strings real tense?

[xiaoleideng]

Thanks for the video! I was thinking why there is no fine tuner on my teacher's violin. About tuning the violin. I am using a electrical tuner right now. The problem of my device is the needle shakes a lot with different pressure on the bow. To a degree that I don't want to trust the needle at all. Is it just my tuner or it is better to try to rely on ear completely?

[professorV]

That is a good point, Xiaolei. You want to develop the ear. I think it is sort of like placing tapes on the fingerboard. They are a crutch to use while the ear catches up. Useful, but not the best in the end.

As for tuners: I've never actually owned one, but I hear the tuners that clip to the bridge are more trustworthy. You might look for one.

[brian777999]

it is not the fault of the tuner ; it is you. Try plucking the string with your fingernail instead of bowing when you are tuning up. This is what I do when I use my electronic tuner.

[professorV]

Brian, that's a fine idea for a beginner, thanks.