Fiddle tuner – Calico (AEAC#)
A-E-A-C# · Alternative
Press “Start tuner” – the browser will ask for microphone access. Sound is analysed on this device and never uploaded.
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your Fiddle is to Calico (AEAC#) tuning (A-E-A-C#). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About Calico (AEAC#) tuning
Compared with Standard (GDAE), Calico (AEAC#) moves 3 strings. Some strings go up and others go down, so the total tension stays close to Standard (GDAE) while the shape of the fretboard changes completely.1 string stays exactly where it was.
| String | Standard (GDAE) | Calico (AEAC#) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G3 | A3 | up 2 semitones |
| 2 | D4 | E4 | up 2 semitones |
| 4 | E5 | C#5 | down 3 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound A-E-A-C# – from A3 at the bottom to C#5 at the top, a span of 1 octave and 4 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a fifth, a fourth, a major third, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
Left open, the strings together spell A. That is a by-product of how the intervals are laid out rather than the point of the tuning, but it does mean some chords need very few fingers here.
History
Where the Calico (AEAC#) tuning comes from
A-E-A-C#, calico tuning, is associated with the tune “Black Mountain Rag”. It is an old-time tuning that gives a bright open A chord.
Other Fiddle tunings
Standard
Alternative
How do I tune my Fiddle to Calico (AEAC#)?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (A-E-A-C#).
Which notes are used in Calico (AEAC#) tuning?
Calico (AEAC#) tuning for Fiddle uses the notes A-E-A-C#, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.