i would like to ask you guys how i can tune my strings myself. i dont have a teacher here but i would like to practise a bit but all my strings are out of tune. im really afraid i will snap one of strings if i tune it myself and i dont have a tuning fork. is there any way i can learn how to tune my strings...without snapping them?
waiting for your replies....thanks.

If you haven't done this before you really need to be shown. You also need some reference - another instrument whose pitch you can rely on. There's no other way except maybe a sustained note on a CD which you are certain of. WHen you have one in tune, the rest are turned a fifth up or down. Also be prepared for the tuning to drop at first as the strings stretch a little.

Step one : Get a teacher. It may be possible to learn guitar or piano without a teacher, but it isn't the same for violin.

Step two : Get him/her to show you.

I agree with the need to get a teacher, but tuning shouldn't be too difficult. You just need the notes. If you haven't got another instrument or pitch pipes to refer to, try searching online, there are several sites that have soundfiles of the correct pitches.

Liz

Why not use an electronic tuner? You should be able to get one for less than 20 pounds and you'll be sure your strings are in tune.

Tuning - can be a complete nightmare! I usually use my dad's electronic tuner but failing that, a piano can be useful.
DON'T use the tuning pegs to tune unless you're really sure of yourself or the string is really out of tune. Use the adjusters instead (they're the screws near the bridge).
1)Play an A on the piano.
2)Play your A string. If it is too sharp, turn the adjuster anticlockwise. If it is too flat, turn the adjuster clockwise. Check with the piano and repeat until the string is in tune.
3)Repeat the process for the D,G and E strings (in that order).

Hope this helps!

This poster may only have one fine tuner and anyway you can't always depend on fine tuners because eventually, as the string keeps slipping and you keep retuning it with the fine tuner you'll get to a point where it reaches its limit and the string is still flat!

As long as you keep listening to the note you're aiming for, either with an electronic tuner or on a CD, and as long as you can recognise whether your string is higher or lower than the tuning note, you'll be OK.

If you can't recognise "higher" and lower" you won't be able to do it because you won't know which direction to turn your tuning pegs!

So first, establish whether you can always tell higher from lower.

If you can, then all you need to do is turn the appropriate peg clockwise to raise the pitch of the string, or anti-clockwise to lower it. You also need to push it in as you turn it. This is very important otherwise the string will just slip again.

If you're sharpening the string, just turn it (while pushing it in) very gradually, whilst continually bowing or plucking and listening to the correct pitch. When the two notes concur, stop.

The string will only break if you go too far above the correct pitch.

Good luck!

Violinia

PS The above posters are right, though - you should get your teacher to give you a lesson in tuning.

QUOTE (Violinia @ Dec 28 2004, 12:41 AM)

You also need to push it in as you turn it. This is very important otherwise the string will just slip again.

may I add, "gently"... if you ram the peg in hard every time you tune, you could risk splitting the scroll. if a peg is the right size, well fitted, you haven't done anything silly like put chalk on it, unless you're very unfortunate to have a really slippy peg then you shouldn't need to push it in so much as just keep pressure on it to make sure it doesn't slip out. don't be thinking you need the peg to be moving into the holes in the scroll, unless it is very slippy/a long way out. be gentle with your instrument!!!

Well OK perhaps I should have said "gently" (push the peg in as you turn it) but in my experience most pegs on most violins slip unless you push them inwards as well as turning them. And I've never had a peg split!! Perish the thought!

In fact, some of the (non-reconditioned) Stentor student violins have such slippy pegs it's virtually impossible to tune them, which I why I always tell my students to get a reconditioned Stentor if they're buying one.

If your pegs continually slip it's a good idea to get new ones fitted - they don't cost that much. Also, some violin shops/violin accessories suppliers sell a stuff that comes in a container like a lipstick case, for applying to pegs to help them grip. It's fairly effective.

QUOTE (Violinia @ Dec 28 2004, 01:24 AM)

Well OK perhaps I should have said "gently" (push the peg in as you turn it) but in my experience most pegs on most violins slip unless you push them inwards as well as turning them. In fact, some of the (non-reconditioned) Stentor student violins have such slippy pegs it's virtually impossible to tune them, which I why I always tell my students to get a reconditioned Stentor if they're buying one. If your pegs continually slip it's a good idea to get new ones fitted - they don't cost that much. Also, some violin shops/violin accessories suppliers sell a stuff that comes in a container like a lipstick case, for applying to pegs to help them grip. It's fairly effective.

peg paste? or something similar... peg compound... oh I don't remember. I've never actually seen the stuff, just heard of it! I know pegs can slip insanely... very frustrating!

I know you do need to push... esp on a stentor I suspect... (I'd blocked those memories out, lol.... I wasn't thinking of stentors and other likely culprits, fortunately it's been a long while....!) however I have a friend who makes violins, and have heard stories of split scrolls from pegs being pushed too hard, and have been warned by them as knows that pushing the pegs in too hard can be a risky move. yes, definitely cheaper to get new pegs than to have the scroll on your violin repaired!

and like I said... never be tempted to put chalk on the pegs... they'll grip better for a short while, then the chalk will abrade the peg and the hole, and hey presto, then they will slip REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY badly!!

Ithink I need to buy some peg paste, my C string kept slipping non stop in a concert last night, thank god that when I had rests it was for about 30 bars so that I could re-tune incredibly quietly. Plucking isn't the most efficient method of hearing how well you've tuned up!!

eeek! what a nightmare!