Special tunings

This site is oriented primarily towards fiddlers (although most instruments are suitable for Scandinavian folk music). A violin is typically tuned GDAE (lowest string first), but many other tunings are possible and are used commonly in Baroque music and for folk music -- this technique is called scordatura. (For hardingfele, the typical tuning is ADAE, and alternative tunings are especially common.) The collection of folk music materials in the Svensk visarkiv, from which the massive tune collection (circa 8000 items) Svenska Låtar (SvL) was quarried, lists 33 different tunings.

When playing in performance, there are practical considerations about changing the tuning of the violin, especially if there are several fiddlers playing together. Consequently, it can be convenient to play entire sets in the same tuning. Below are examples of some tunes which share a common tuning, from which sets could be constructed. Other tunes not listed here can also be played in some of these tunings -- experiment and see what works.

The most common alternative tuning for the violin is ADAE (also known as A-bas). It is so common (and often optional) that no special list has been gathered here, except for one tune whose string harmonics require an A-bas.

Reminder -- the quickest way to find a tune is to enter its number into the Search box.

Tuning: ADAE (A-bas)

Tuning: AEAE (oppstemt ters)

Tuning: AEAC#

Tuning: ADF#E

Tuning: FDAE (F-bas)

Tuning: GDAD