Flute Tuner
This flute tuner shows the note you are playing and how many cents flat or sharp it is. The flute reads at concert pitch, so the letter matches your music. Set the head joint first, then check notes across the range.
Play a tuning note
The microphone is only used while the tuner runs. Sound is analysed on your device and never recorded or sent anywhere.
Flute tuning notes
The flute reads at concert pitch, so the tuner shows the same note you play. These are the usual tuning notes, with the pitch the tuner listens for at A = 440 Hz.
| Concert pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|
| A4 | 440.00 Hz |
| B♭4 | 466.16 Hz |
Not sure of a fingering? The flute fingering chart shows every note and plays it at the right pitch.
How to tune a flute
- Warm up with long tones; the flute goes sharp as it warms.
- Play A or B♭ in the middle of the staff with your normal, relaxed embouchure.
- Move the head joint. Sharp (needle right): pull out a millimetre or two. Flat (needle left): push in.
- Line it up again. Check that the embouchure hole is still aligned with the keys after you move it.
- Check other octaves. Play low A and high A. If one is flat and the other sharp, the fix is in how you direct the air, not the head joint.
Notes to watch
The low register (C to E) tends to be flat; the third octave tends to be sharp, especially when you push. Practise these with the tuner on long tones and small changes to your air direction and lip opening, not with more pressure.
Dynamics and pitch
Flutes go sharp when you play loudly and flat when you play softly. Practise crescendos and diminuendos on one note with the tuner running and keep the needle in the centre by adjusting where you aim the air.
Flute Tuner FAQ
How do I tune my flute?
Play A (second space) or B♭ after warming up. If the needle is right (sharp), pull the head joint out a little; if it is left (flat), push it in. Keep the embouchure hole lined up with the keys when you move it.
How far should the head joint be pulled out?
Most flutes are designed to play in tune with the head joint pulled out a few millimetres. Pushed all the way in, most flutes are sharp. Start there and adjust with the tuner.
Why are my low notes flat and high notes sharp?
That is the flute's natural tendency, and it gets worse with a tight embouchure or blowing harder for high notes. Aim the air slightly higher for low notes and slightly lower for high notes, rather than rolling the flute in.
Should I roll the flute in to play in tune?
No. Rolling in covers more of the hole, which makes the note flatter but also smaller and darker. Set the head joint so you can play in tune with your normal embouchure.
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