How violinists tune: A first, then fifths
Orchestral practice tunes the A string to the reference (the oboe's A in an orchestra; the 440 Hz tone here), then tunes the remaining strings in perfect fifths against it - D below the A, G below the D, E above the A. A perfectly tuned fifth, bowed as a double stop, has a calm, locked sound; a mistuned one wobbles audibly. That wobble is the same "beat" phenomenon every ear tuner uses.
Use the pegs for coarse tuning only - they move the pitch fast and stick-slip suddenly - and do the final approach with the fine tuners at the tailpiece. Bow the string continuously while adjusting so you hear the pitch change in real time.
Peg discipline saves strings
- Always tune up to pitch. Coming from above leaves the peg ready to slip.
- Push the peg gently into the pegbox while turning - friction is what holds it.
- Small movements: a few degrees of peg rotation is many cents of pitch.
- If a peg jumps past the note repeatedly, drop well below and creep up with the fine tuner.
- New strings stretch for several days - persistent flatness that first week is the string, not you.