Online Oud Tuner
Six-course Arabic oud or Renaissance lute, instruments with friction pegs and doubled strings: the tuner identifies each string, adapts to historical pitch standards and helps you handle pegs that can be temperamental.
The microphone is only requested when you tap the button. Sound is analysed on your device; nothing is recorded. Open the full app
How to tune your oud, step by step
- Choose the “Arabic oud” tuning, or create your own if your school uses a different layout.
- Place your phone near the soundholes, in a quiet room.
- Start with a middle course, such as D3 (146.83 Hz) or G3 (196.00 Hz), which are easier to pick up than the low C.
- Tune each string of the course separately while muting the other, then play them together to check the unison.
- Turn the pegs gently while pushing them into the pegbox: on an oud, they hold by friction alone.
- Finish with the low course, then do a full check of every course.
Notes and frequencies
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C2 | Do1 | 65.41 |
| 2 | F2 (×2) | Fa1 | 87.31 |
| 3 | A2 (×2) | La1 | 110.00 |
| 4 | D3 (×2) | Ré2 | 146.83 |
| 5 | G3 (×2) | Sol2 | 196.00 |
| 6 | C4 (×2) | Do3 | 261.63 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “Arabic oud (6 courses)”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G2 + G3 | Sol1 + Sol2 | 98.00 + 196.00 |
| 2 | C3 + C4 | Do2 + Do3 | 130.81 + 261.63 |
| 3 | F3 + F4 | Fa2 + Fa3 | 174.61 + 349.23 |
| 4 | A3 (×2) | La2 | 220.00 |
| 5 | D4 (×2) | Ré3 | 293.66 |
| 6 | G4 | Sol3 | 392.00 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “Renaissance lute in G”
Arabic oud tuning
The tuning provided is one of the most widespread for the six-course Arabic oud, from low to high: C2 (65.41 Hz), F2 (87.31 Hz), A2 (110.00 Hz), D3 (146.83 Hz), G3 (196.00 Hz) and C4 (261.63 Hz). In solfège: Do, Fa, La, Ré, Sol, Do. The lowest course is a single string here; the other five are doubled in unison.
There is no single oud tuning. Depending on the country, the school and the player, the low course may be tuned differently (to D, F or G, for example), a seventh course may be added, and the Turkish oud is often tuned higher than the Arabic oud. If your tuning is different, create it in the app and share it with your students via a link.
The low C at 65.41 Hz is below the range where phone microphones are comfortable (80 to 100 Hz). Bring the phone closer, pluck firmly, or tune this course by ear against the high C4, two octaves above.
Taming friction pegs
The oud has neither tuning machines nor fine tuners. For a small adjustment, turn the peg ever so slightly while pushing it in a little: that pressure is what holds it in place. If it slips back, it is too dry; if it moves in jerks, it is sticking. Either way, peg soap or a suitable peg compound fixes the problem.
With pegs set on both sides of a bent-back pegbox, the direction of rotation is not obvious. The “which way to turn” helper shows a diagram and watches the pitch while you turn, confirming whether you are going up or down.
Maqams, quarter tones and temperaments
The oud is fretless and its repertoire uses intervals that do not match equal temperament. The tuner is mainly meant for tuning the open strings; for fingered notes, chromatic mode shows the deviation in cents, which lets you spot and memorise the pitch of an interval without judging it out of tune.
To tune courses in pure fourths by ear, turn on the drone on one course’s note and adjust the next until the beats disappear. You can also select just intonation or Pythagorean tuning, with the tonic of your choice.
Renaissance lute and A = 415 Hz
The six-course Renaissance lute in G is tuned G2, C3, F3, A3, D4, G4: a major third in the middle and fourths elsewhere. In the tuning provided, the three low courses are doubled at the octave, the next two in unison, and the top string (chanterelle) is single.
Early music is often played at A = 415 Hz, a semitone below A440. Choose the 415 preset: the target A3 becomes 207.50 Hz and the top string 369.72 Hz. Expert mode lets you set the reference to a tenth of a hertz between 392 and 470 Hz to match a harpsichord or an ensemble.
Gut strings move with humidity: tune right before playing and check again between pieces.
Frequently asked questions
How is an Arabic oud tuned?
A common tuning is C F A D G C, from low to high: C2 at 65.41 Hz, F2, A2, D3, G3 and C4 at 261.63 Hz. Other variants exist depending on the region and the school.
Why does the tuner struggle with the lowest course?
C2 sits at 65.41 Hz, a range many phone microphones pick up poorly. Bring the phone closer or tune this course by ear against the high C.
My oud pegs keep slipping, what should I do?
Push them in slightly as you turn. If they still slip, peg compound or a visit to a luthier will restore their grip.
Is the tuner suitable for quarter tones?
It shows the deviation in cents from the nearest semitone, so a quarter tone appears around ±50 cents. It is a useful reference, not a verdict on the intonation of the maqam.
How do I tune a lute to 415 Hz?
Select the “Renaissance lute” tuning and the 415 Hz preset. All target notes are then shifted down by a semitone.
Can I save my teacher’s tuning?
Yes, create a custom tuning: it stays on your device and can be shared with a link, no account needed.