Get the best reading

A tuner is only as good as the note you feed it. A few simple habits give clean, trustworthy results — first pan or fiftieth.

1. 1 Find a quiet spot

   The mic hears everything — fans, traffic and chatter all skew the reading.

2. 2 Strike the sweet spot

   Tap the centre of the note's dimple with a fingertip — one clean, relaxed strike.

3. 3 Let it ring

   Don't damp it. The tuner reads the sustained tone as it settles; let it sing for about a second.

4. 4 One note at a time

   Neighbouring notes bleed in. Pause between strikes so the tuner hears just one.

5. 5 Strike a few times

   The first tap is often off. Play it two or three times and trust what repeats. Tap 🔊 to match by ear.

6. 6 Read it calmly

   Green means in tune. ±10¢ is fine — noticeable to a keen ear but perfectly playable.

Phones, tablets and laptops have very different microphones. If a reading looks surprising, try the same note on another device for a second opinion.