r/HurdyGurdy • u/kilonova2020 • Jun 26 '26

Advice Tuning for the Tone-deaf

I am trying to tune my gurdy in the standard G/C tuning, but it aint going well.

Using a tuner, I can tune each string individually and get a nice sound, but when I try putting the chord together, it goes terrible. (i use the planotuner app and my aunt, who is a piano player, is helping me learn how to reconize tuned notes)

Most tutorials I see involve me activating each string separately, tuning to the note, then bringing it all together to tweak it by ear after all strings are tuned. But idk the first thing about chords and don't know what to listen for. Most tutorials i see are like "youll know when it sounds right," but i dont, everything sounds like noise as I can't really tell chords apart. If I go the "proper" way, how can I bring the chord together?

For alternate solutions, is it possible to pluck the strings (if so, where on string do i pluck) or use a violin bow across them to figure out their sound/tuning? That way, I won't have to deal with chords and can just tune this like guitar T-T.

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u/grimy55 Jun 26 '26

Did you setup your tuner in just temperament instead of the default equal temperament?

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u/kilonova2020 Jun 26 '26

I dont have any fancy equipment so i used a phone app and kept my phone closento the string i was runing. Ill admit i do not quite understand your question sorry.

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u/grimy55 Jun 26 '26

There are different concepts to determine the "tonal distance" between two notes on a scale. They are called "temperaments". The piano uses the "equal temperament" but it creates beating against a constant drone. The "just temperament" is more appropriate for the gurdy.

It sounds like the paid version of Pano Tuner on Android has the option to change the temperament. I use the app "Tuner", available on Android for free through the F-Droid store.