tuning
TOO-ning
/ˈtjuːnɪŋ/
The act of adjusting the pitch of an instrument to a correct, standard frequency.
Tuning is the preparatory adjustment of an instrument's strings, pipes, or keys to a standard pitch (like A = 440 Hz) before a performance begins.
The story behind the word. Tuning is a phonetic variant of 'tone,' which comes from the Latin 'tonus' and Greek 'tonos' (meaning a stretching, tension, or pitch). To tune an instrument originally meant to adjust the tension of its strings until they reached the correct pitch.
Word relationships
- pitch adjustment: Pitch adjustment is a generic description, while tuning is the specific, standard musical term for aligning pitches.
Commonly confused with
- voicing: Tuning adjusts the pitch of the notes, while voicing adjusts the actual tone quality, brightness, or softness of the instrument's sound.
Word family
- tune (noun/verb): A melody, or to adjust pitch.
- tuner (noun): An electronic device or a person who tunes instruments.
Collocations
- tuning peg
- standard tuning
- out of tuning
Example sentences
- "The musicians spent several minutes tuning their instruments to the oboe." Before an orchestral concert.
Memory hook
Think of 'tuning' as 'tensioning.' You are adjusting the tension of the strings to get the right sound. Tuning is adjusting the tension to find the right tone.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'intonation,' which is the active adjustment of pitch while playing.
Fun facts
- In a modern orchestra, everyone tunes to the oboe because its bright, piercing sound is easy to hear, and its pitch is remarkably stable compared to other woodwinds.
Related words
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