Tone generator & drone
Play a steady pitch at any frequency or note: for tuning by ear, intonation practice or testing speakers.
Start at a low volume. Very high and very low tones can be uncomfortable or harm your ears and speakers.
How to use the tone generator
- Drag the slider, use the buttons, or type an exact frequency in hertz.
- Pick a note and octave to jump straight to its pitch (A4 = 440 Hz).
- Turn on the added fifth and lower octave for a rich drone to practice scales and intonation against.
- Keyboard: Space to play or stop, arrow keys to change the pitch by 1 Hz (Shift: one semitone).
What is a drone and why practice with one?
A drone is a long, steady note held underneath your playing. Singing or playing scales over a drone trains your ear to hear exactly how each note relates to the tonic, which improves intonation faster than practicing with a tuner alone.
Frequently asked questions
What frequency is A4?
Standard concert pitch puts A4 at 440 Hz. Some orchestras tune slightly higher, to 442 Hz.
Which wave shape should I choose?
Sine is the purest tone, best for hearing tests and beat-free tuning. Warm and sawtooth have more overtones and are easier to hear on phone speakers.
Why can’t I hear very low frequencies?
Phone and laptop speakers cannot reproduce deep bass. Use headphones, or choose a wave with overtones such as Warm or Sawtooth.