Tuning & Intonation

A quick-reference chart on tuning an ensemble in order, which note bends and how far in a chord, why pitch drifts sharp or flat, and how to fix intonation in the room.

What's inside

• A six-step order for tuning an ensemble, from one source through to holding a full chord
• A table of which note bends and how far — octaves, fifths, thirds, leading notes and unisons
• Beats explained as the sound of being out of tune, with a diagram of fast and slow pulsing
• A table of why pitch drifts sharp or flat, separately for winds, strings and the whole group
• Three ways to fix intonation in the room — tuning down to the bass, stopping and holding, and naming the interval
• Notes on how close is close enough, practising alone against a drone, and what composers should ask for