Pure Intonation Teach your ensemble to tune chords
Equal temperament gets players close, but sustained chords only lock when the thirds and sevenths are adjusted. Pure Intonation Tuner lets you play the chord your ensemble is holding, tuned pure, and shows every section how far to move.
Open Pure Intonation Tuner – free
In rehearsal
- Enter the chord from the score on the keyboard, or play it on a MIDI keyboard.
- Play it through the room speakers in Pure mode. Each note shows its function (1, 3, 5, ♭7) and its cents offset, such as 3rd −14¢.
- Flip to Equal and back so players hear the difference between a beating chord and a ringing one.
- Have each section match the drone, then take it away and hold the chord on their own.
At home
Students can open the same page on their phone, set the chord, and use the strobe tuner to practice placing their note exactly where it belongs in that chord. No accounts, no app store, nothing to buy.
Works for
Concert and jazz bands, orchestras, brass and saxophone sections, string quartets and choirs: any group that sustains chords. Built by Michael Van Bebber, a trumpeter, pianist, singer and educator who directs high-school jazz ensembles in Seattle.
Questions
Can students use it on their phones?
Yes. It runs in any modern phone browser and can be added to the home screen to work offline.
Why do ensembles adjust thirds and sevenths?
In a sustained chord, equal-tempered thirds and sevenths beat against the root. Adjusting them toward pure ratios makes the chord lock and ring.
Free in your browser. No account, no download.
Open the tuner