Pitch Detector
Read the exact detected frequency, nearest note, cents deviation and MIDI number from your microphone in real time.
- Frequency
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- Nearest note
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- Note frequency
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- Deviation
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- MIDI number
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- Signal (RMS)
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Reports the estimated fundamental frequency using autocorrelation. Best for a single sustained note; chords and noisy input reduce accuracy. Everything is computed locally.
How this test works
The tuners and pitch tools listen to your instrument or voice through the microphone and estimate the fundamental pitch locally using an autocorrelation algorithm. The result is converted to the nearest musical note and a cents deviation, all on your device.
Within ±5 cents of the target counts as in tune. In auto mode the tool picks the closest string for you; in manual mode you choose a string and tune it directly. Tapping a string plays a clean reference tone from an oscillator.
No audio is uploaded. The microphone is opened only when you press start and released the moment you stop, leave the page, or switch tabs.
How to use it
- Press the grant-access button and allow microphone access.
- Play a single, clean, sustained note or pluck one string.
- Read the detected note and the needle: tune up if flat, down if sharp.
- Aim for the green ‘in tune’ zone within a few cents of the target.
- Tap a string to hear its reference pitch, and press Stop when finished.
What it detects
- The fundamental pitch of a single played or sung note
- The nearest musical note and how many cents sharp or flat you are
- Which string of the selected tuning you are closest to
- Exact detected frequency and MIDI number (in the pitch detector)
What it can’t detect
- Multiple notes at once — detection is monophonic, so play one note at a time
- Perfect accuracy in noisy rooms or with heavily distorted tones
- A strobe-tuner level of precision, though it’s accurate to a few cents on a clean signal
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| Reading jumps around | Play one clean note and let it ring; background noise and chords confuse monophonic detection. |
| Octave seems wrong on low notes | Pluck or bow firmly and mute other strings; weak low notes can read as a harmonic. |
| No permission prompt | Make sure the site is on HTTPS and the mic isn’t blocked in your browser’s site settings. |
| Hard to tune very low strings | Give bass and cello low notes a firm, sustained attack so the detector can lock on. |
FAQ
Does this upload my audio?
No. Your microphone signal is analyzed locally in the browser and never sent anywhere.
Why does the reading jump around?
Background noise, chords, or a decaying note can confuse detection. Play a single clean note and let it ring.
How accurate is it?
On a clean, sustained note it’s typically accurate to within a few cents — enough to tune reliably, but not a replacement for a hardware strobe tuner.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in any modern browser over HTTPS after you allow microphone access.
Can I use it without a microphone?
Tuning needs the mic to hear your instrument, but you can still tap strings to hear reference tones. The tap-tempo tool needs no mic at all.
What reference pitch is used?
Standard concert pitch, A4 = 440 Hz, which sets every other note in equal temperament.
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