How do I tune my guitar with it?+−
Start the tuner, allow the microphone and pluck one open string, letting it ring. If the needle is left of centre the string is flat - tighten it; right of centre is sharp - loosen it. Turn slowly, and tune up to the note from below, which keeps the string from slipping. Standard tuning from the thickest string is E A D G B E.
What is a cent?+−
A hundredth of a semitone. Most people can't hear a difference under about 5 cents, which is why the tuner turns green within ±5. Twelve semitones make an octave, so 1200 cents is one octave.
Why does it show the wrong note or jump around?+−
Play one string at a time and mute the others; tune in a quiet room and hold the phone or laptop near the instrument. Right after a hard pluck a string is briefly sharp, so read the needle as the note settles. Choosing your instrument also helps: it then only listens for notes that instrument can play.
How accurate is it?+−
It uses the McLeod pitch method on 4096-sample frames with sub-sample interpolation. On real recordings of guitars, bass, cello, violin and double bass it found the right note in 98.9% of frames, and on clean test tones it is within a cent. Your microphone and room matter more than the maths.
Can I tune to 442 Hz or 432 Hz?+−
Yes - change the A4 reference. Orchestras often tune to 442 Hz, some baroque ensembles to 415 Hz, and some musicians like 432 Hz. Every note and string follows the reference.
Is the microphone recording me?+−
No. The audio is analysed a frame at a time in your browser and thrown away; nothing is stored or uploaded. The microphone switches off when you press Stop or leave the page.