Tuning the Violin for Carnatic Music

In order to be able to play in a tuneful way, the violin has to be tuned well before we can start playing the instrument.

The Mechanism:

We can change the tuning of the violin by changing the tension on the string, and that we accomplish by using the two parts of the violin:

  1. Tuning pegs: Changes the pitch of the string in a significant manner.
  2. Fine Tuners: As the name suggest, this is used to make minute adjustments.

 

 


The Notes to Tune to:

As we have learnt earlier in the video about shruti, Indian musical notes are relative to the tonic. They are not like the western musical notes which have been standardized to certain frequencies. Every time that the tonic (or foundational note) is changed, the tuning of the violin is also changed. The tuning of the 4 strings, starting from lowest pitch to highest pitch:

  • Lower Tonic (Lower Sa)
  • Lower Fifth (Lower Pa)
  • Tonic (Sa)
  • Fifth (Pa)

In the table below, I have mentioned a few examples using western music notes. Tuning Table

In my opinion, the violin sounds the best  in the Indian style when tonic string is tuned to E4. This tuning is much lower than the western tuning, so we shall explore string selection in future videos. So the 4 notes to tune the violin would be:

  • E3
  • B3
  • E4
  • B4

 

Tuning Process:

Students are usually expected to tune the violin by ear after a while. But for beginners, that might seem difficult. So you can use tuners for help, be it physical tuners or digital ones in the form of software.  You need to match the tuning of each string to the notes listed above. In my testing, a lot of smartphone apps performed poorly leading to erroneous results. So make sure to download a highly rated application. Tuner – DaTuner (Lite!) is one such free android application that worked very well.

  1. Switch on the tuner device or open the tuner application. Make sure that it is registering changes based on the sound.
  2. Using your finger, start plucking the string you wish to tune.
  3. Using the pegs, match up the note that you see on the tuner to the desired musical note. Be sure to screw your pegs in tight, or they will slip, causing the tuning to change.
  4. Don’t look for 100% accuracy yet.
  5. Once you have all the four strings in approximately the correct position, start bowing the strings and refine your tuning to perfection.

 


 

 Let me know below in the comments section if you are having trouble with the tuning process.

 

47 Responses to “Tuning the Violin for Carnatic Music

  • Bhava Sagar
    8 years ago

    Hi Tejas,
    This is Sagar! I have seen the video you posted in YouTube about the tuning the violin! I got a violin a week ago and i tried tuning by an electronic tuner . But i got failed to tune it correctly!To tune to E4-B4-E3-B3 I ended up with all different combination which I dnt know the order! For say when I Pa- the small thin string ( That is Base Pa- correct me because I dont know anything about carnatic music but I wanted to learn ,but never before ) make the pegs turn they will tune to E3,G3,and so on.. Is there any order for these like if I see E3, making the peg to tighten makes E4??? like any other order like tighten the string makes this order ??? E4 E3 E2 E1 C4 C3 C2 C1 B4 B3 B2 B1 A4 A3 A2 A1
    Please let me know how exactly I make the tuning from other nodes !

    Thanks
    Sagar

    • Sorry, but I can’t make complete sense of your query. But if I understood you right, here is the answer. Strings are certainly placed in order. If you are tuning them from thickest to thinnest string, the order of the strings is Lower Sa, Lower Pa, Sa and Pa. So if you shruti is tuned to E, then the corresponding western notes are E3, B3, E4 & B4. And for the tuning process, you will need to use a tuner or tune by ear. If this answer doesn’t solve your problem, please frame your question more clearly.

    • Hi

      I want to practice singing while playing violin. What would be the best tuning. I sing in C and C# pitch.

      • Tejas mallela
        5 years ago

        Singing while playing simultaneously? Interesting. You’ll need to choose the same tonic note. So C or C#.

        • I need a thicker string for the lowest one and move everything up.

  • Bhava Sagar Peyyalamitta
    8 years ago

    Hi Tejas ,
    Thanks for the prompt reply! Okay ! Cool ! Am using clip type electronic tuner ! I want to make my ‘Sa’ with second thin string I.E ‘E4’ right! For the first time when i checked it I saw with G3 ! Then how can i make then to G3-E4!
    Thanks!

    • First make sure we are talking about the correct string, Sa is the 2nd thinnest string. So if it is currently playing at G3, you need to tighten it significantly using the corresponding tuning peg. It will go from G3, A3, B3, C4, D4 and finally reach E4. Use the fine tuner screws to match the tuning up accurately. Again, make sure that we are talking about the correct Sa string, as you risk breaking the string if you are wrong.

      • Bhava Sagar Peyyalamitta
        8 years ago

        Thanks for the info! Now I got the order! Alright Sir! I will make sure the correct string as Sa!

        Thanks Much
        Bhava Sagar

        • Bhava Sagar Peyyalamitta
          8 years ago

          Let me check with this one if i got it right ! For example from “F2-F3”
          order is F2-G2-A2-B2-C3-D3-E3-F3! Isn’t it?

  • Hi sir as i am very New to voilin i purchased and also tune very sharply with the help of your vedio but i want to learn more in voilin so i can play any song toy mother she is music lover too but one thing i want to ask u may i

  • Ronnie Pillay
    8 years ago

    Hello Tejas,
    Greetings and respect to you! Thank you for sharing your knowledge for those of us keen on learning the violin. Your gesture is highly appreciated.

    Please advise suitable sruthi petti to get for violin. Also, I understand can we also use the tamboura sruthi as well.

    Thank you.
    God bless!
    Ronnie Pillay

    • Tejas mallela
      8 years ago

      Hello Ronnie,

      Tanpura backing is almost a must while learning, practicing or performing Indian classical music. You have some amazing apps these days that offer the 2nd best option to using a real tanpura. For iOS I would suggest iTanpura, and for android: Bheema Tanpura. You should connect your phone or tablet to speakers while using these apps, as the internal speakers are not loud enough.

      Regards,

      Tejas

  • Ronnie Pillay
    8 years ago

    Hello Tejas,
    Warm greetings to you!
    Thank you very much for your learned advice and suggestions. Highly appreciated. Will follow through as suggested.

    Thank you.
    God bless!
    Ronnie

  • Ronnie Pillay
    8 years ago

    Hello Tejas,

    Warm greetings to you!

    As per your good advice:

    1. I have down loaded the iTanpura.

    2. I have tuned the violin as per your suggestion above, viz: E3 -B3-E4-B4 ..(as best as I could).

    3. Commenced training with iTanpura – connected to external speaker and with settings as below:

    TANPURA DROID

    First String Sa

    Pitch E

    pitch semi ‘ – 0 ‘+
    Speed
    Volume

    4. Not sure if this is correct, kindly advise .

    Sincere thanks and appreciation.
    God bless!

    Ronnie

    • Tejas mallela
      8 years ago

      Everything sounds correct. Note that this tuning for the violin is much lower than the standard western tuning. So for best results, using heavy gauge violin strings is recommended.

  • Hello Tejas,
    Warm greetings to you!

    Thank you for your most helpful feedback. Most highly appreciated.
    I have taken note of your kind comments regarding the violin strings.

    In appreciation.
    God bless!

    Ronnie

  • I am using the first row C3-G3-C4-G4 and I tune it by ear using the piano keys for reference.

  • ajaikumar
    8 years ago

    Hai Thejus sir
    When you referred to heavy gauge violin strings, what you mean , can you specify the gauge and the best suitable brand?
    Thank you
    Ajai

    • Tejas mallela
      6 years ago

      Sorry for the late reply. Indian tuning can often much lower than western tuning. So if one were to use western strings, it would become quite slack. I use D’addario Helicore Heavy Gauge strings which are slightly thicker. So they are playable at lower tunings too.

    • Hi sir.. Please can you tell the scales of the four strings to tune it to G Scale.
      Thank you

  • Hello sir,
    I have been trying to tune my violin as the thinnest string as Sa, then the second string as Pa, the third string as Sa and the last string As PA. Can you please help me out here. I have tried everything.

  • Manjunath
    8 years ago

    Hi Tejas, thank you for the info. I am looking to tune my violin to shruthi A, can you provide me the table to tune it. Appreciate your feedback.

    • Tejas mallela
      8 years ago

      The notes will be Low Sa – A3, Low Pa – E4, Sa – A4, Pa – E5. Be careful while tuning at this pitch, the tension will be very high especially on the lower strings. You need to use appropriate strings.

      • Vishnupriya
        5 years ago

        Namestey
        Thank you for all your valuable knowledge on tuning the violin.
        I am very comfortable to tune my violin at E Shruti.
        If I were to accompany someone ( woman/ child)singing in A, what should I tune my instrument to .Is it A3 E3 B4 B4?
        Also what strings would you recommend for this ? Thank you very much for your help ?

  • I hav been playing carnatic violin for some time….but can i convert my current carnatic violin to a western violin by changing the strings or will i hav to buy an entirely new western violin…

  • Hi Tejas, awesome instructions and video. I would like to tune my violin to shruthi G, can you please provide me with the notes? Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Andal

    • Tejas mallela
      7 years ago

      You use the tuner app for help, and tune to the following notes:

      Lower Sa String (fattest string): G3
      Lower Pa String : D4
      Sa String : G5
      Pa String (thinnest String) : D5

      • Hi Tejas,

        Should the setting be not
        G3
        D4
        G4
        D5.

        ?

        • Tejas mallela
          6 years ago

          Yes, that is Sa – Pa – Sa – Pa tuning, with G as the Tonic (or base) note. Typically when violin is being played in the carnatic style as a solo instrument, the tonic note is D, D#, E or F. But if G is what your preference is, that would work too.

  • Maura Enright
    7 years ago

    Greetings from an American fiddle player. Your series is wonderful! Clear and concise.

  • Sirsendu Ray Choudhuri
    7 years ago

    Hii….i want to tune my violen in indian classical pa sa pa sa style…..what will be tha best notes for it…..please send me the sound frequencies for these notes please

    • Tejas mallela
      7 years ago

      Depends on what note you choose your Sa (tonic note) to be. Read this article again.

  • The group is singing in g# then how the violin to be tuned in our Carnatic system.

    • Tejas mallela
      6 years ago

      That means that the tonic note is G#. The tuning in increasing order would be G#3, D#4, G#4, D#5. Be careful while tuning, the strings at these notes will be quite tense.

  • Thanks. What should be string gauge for it.

  • Sakshi Pande
    6 years ago

    Hello Tejas!
    What is the difference between Hindustani and Carnatic classical? Well, what is the proper tuning for Hindustani classical music? Also, according to the literal translation of notes E corresponds to Ga but we tune to sa-pa-sa-pa. What am I missing here? Do explain this
    Regards,
    Sakshi

    • Tejas mallela
      6 years ago

      Hindustani and carnatic music are two different forms of traditional music existing India. They have many differences and some similarities which are beyond the scope of this discussion. E corresponds to Ga only if you consider C as your root. If you consider E as your root, E becomes Sa. Indian music follows the movable Do system where positions of notes are relative to one another. The western system on the other hand uses absolute frequencies which have been more or less standardized.

    • Shanthi Subramanian
      4 years ago

      Sir I am beginner learner of carnatic classical violin out of passion.

      1. I want to know the tuning notes for Sa and Pa (first Sa and Pa) for Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni Sa… for both strings.

      2. Is there any way to learn without sitting on the floor cross legged?

      Thank you sir
      SS

  • Olivier R
    5 years ago

    Many thanks for the videos.
    Is there some context where Indian music is played on violin Pa-Sa-Pa-Sa?
    I started that way because it was less a drasting tuning change for my instrument, and now feel quite confortable with it. Can that be suitable?

    • Tejas mallela
      5 years ago

      Sorry for the late reply. Indian music offers a lot of flexibility, and I have seen some people in the north of India follow alternative tuning systems. A rule of thumb is as long as you produce the range of music you want to play, that would be a starting point. As for Carnatic music in particular, many compositions have musical content below the lower Pa, so that would be a handicap. Adapting finger style is an easier problem to me that not being able to produce the range of sounds you need to play.

      • Hi Tejas your series is very helpful and insight ful. Can you help me I need to tune my violin to f sharp Shruti what should my ead g strings be tuned to.

  • Suppose you want to tune the violin to a different sruthi say f# how would you do that. What notes would those be and how does one determine that?

  • Can i tune my violin to G3 C4 G4 C5??? Is there any problem in this tuning?

  • Hello Tejas,

    First of all, a great page with lots of useful Info.
    I live in Germany and buying a strings here for Carnatic style is quite a challenge. So I had a question: If I want to tune my violin for Shruthi E4 (E4 being the Tonic Sa), I would have to tune to E3, B3, E4 and B4 as per the info available above. But which strings (In western style) to buy for it? I am not sure if the strings specifically exist for these notes. I mostly find here are EADG strings(In Western Classical style) when I give a search online. Could you please help me here?
    Thanks,
    Sharan

  • Namaste sir.

    Are pirastro chroncor or tonics strings suitable/recommended for Carnatic music.

    Thank you.

  • Sachin Sonkusale
    3 years ago

    Namaste Tejas Sir,

    Can you please put the chart for all the Shruti’s and the corresponding tuning (Lower Sa, Lower Pa, Sa, Pa)? . I see from the explanation that from Shruti, F, G, A, B it doesn’t follow the same pattern.

    Ex: Shruti D4: tuning is D3-A3-D4-A4.

    Ex:Shruti F4: tuning is F3-C4(As per pattern shouldn’t it be C3?)- F4-C5(As per the Pattern shouldn’t it be C4?)

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