It will be easier to tune a cello if you first make sure the bridge is in the correct position. The tuning pegs must then be used to tighten or loosen each string on the cello, bringing the tone closer to the note it should be. Once the strings are close to the correct note, fine tuners can be used to fine-tune the pitch so it is neither too sharp nor too flat. To properly tune a cello, each string must be tuned and re-tuned multiple times in one session before the instrument will stay in tune.
It’s critical to check the bridge placement on a cello before starting to tune it. The bridge, which is located on the cello’s body, is the component that lifts the strings off the instrument. It should be standing straight, parallel to the fingerboard, and upright. The bridge is held in place by the tautness of the strings, so if the strings become loose during the tuning process, the bridge may shift out of place. It will be extremely difficult to tune a cello if the bridge is tilted or slanted.
Set the cello upright as if you’re going to play it, and start tuning one string at a time once the bridge is in place. It’s best to start with the thickest string, the “C,” so you don’t inadvertently put too much stress on the thinner “A” and “D” strings as you tune. If you’re using a chromatic tuner, simply pluck the string and turn the tuning peg for the “C” string until the chromatic tuner indicates you’ve reached the correct note. This process can be done by ear in the absence of a chromatic tuner, using the middle “C” note on a piano or pitch pipe.
Rep the procedure for each string, bringing each one as close to the corresponding note as possible. As you turn each peg, make sure to apply some inward pressure so that it stays in place and doesn’t slip back after you’ve adjusted the string. To fine-tune a cello after you’ve finished tuning each string with the pegs, you can use the fine tuners on the tail piece. Pluck each string and adjust the fine tuner to bring it into precise pitch using the chromatic tuner, piano key, or pitch pipe.
After you’ve finished tuning the last of the four strings, you’ll probably have to tune each one again, possibly multiple times, before it stays in tune. The reason for this is that as you tune the cello, the neck of the instrument will stretch and contract, throwing the strings out of tune. The neck will eventually settle, and the strings will maintain their position, allowing the instrument to stay in tune.
However, if the cello is severely out of tune, it is best to work with each string individually. Instead of tuning one string completely before moving on to the next, alternate between the strings, gradually bringing each in tune. When you tune a cello that is badly out of tune by completely tightening and adjusting one string before moving on to the others, you are putting uneven pressure on the bridge, which will most likely cause it to move or break.