Tune an instrument
Use the Tuner to check a note before you record. It shows the note, octave, frequency and how far the pitch is from the nearest note, with a strip of standard guitar strings to help you find your target.
Tune a note
- Open Tuner from the library header on iPhone, or the sidebar on iPad. Allow microphone access if asked.
- Play one note and let it ring. Check the note and octave as well as the needle.
- If the display says Flat, raise the pitch. If it says Sharp, lower it. Aim for 0 cents in the center.
A cent is one hundredth of a semitone. Negative cents mean the note is flat; positive cents mean it is sharp. In Tune appears within 3 cents of the nearest note, and the note and needle turn green.
Use Power to stop or resume listening, and Close to return to your library.
Match the reference pitch
Tap A = 440 Hz to change the A4 reference. The choices cycle through 440 Hz, 442 Hz and 432 Hz; 440 Hz is the standard setting. Match the reference used by the musicians or instrument you are playing with.
The app remembers your choice. Changing it moves both the note readings and the guitar string targets together.
Tune a guitar in standard tuning
Under Strings, Standard ยท EADGBE lists the open strings from lowest to highest: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4. Play each open string on its own and check that the large note and octave match that string before adjusting it.
The strip highlights the nearest guitar string automatically; it is not a set of buttons for selecting a target. The cents reading measures the nearest chromatic note, so an In Tune reading alone does not mean you have reached the intended guitar string.
Feel the tuning confirmation
On an iPhone with haptic support, the tuner gives a confirmation when a note enters the In Tune zone. Turn Haptic Feedback on in Settings to use it. The green reading also confirms tuning visually on iPad.
Questions
Can I change the tuner to A4 = 432 Hz or 442 Hz?
Yes. Tap the A reference button in the Tuner to cycle between 440 Hz, 442 Hz and 432 Hz; the app remembers the choice.
Does the tuner work only for guitar?
The Tuner is chromatic, so the note reading is not limited to EADGBE. The string strip is a guide for standard guitar tuning; very low or high notes may fall outside the detector's range.
Why does the tuner say In Tune on the wrong guitar string?
In Tune means you are close to the nearest chromatic note. Check the note and octave against E2, A2, D3, G3, B3 or E4 to make sure you have reached the string you want.
Why does the display stay on Listening?
The tuner needs a clear note loud enough to detect: make sure Power is on and play one note at a time near the microphone. If it says No Mic Access, allow the microphone for Music Dawn in Settings; Mic Unavailable means the microphone could not start, often because another app is using it.