Online Trumpet Tuner
Precise chromatic tuning for trumpet, with concert Bb and A reference tones.
Tap the mic and play a note
How to tune a trumpet online
Tap the microphone button and allow browser access — nothing is recorded or uploaded. Play a note and hold it steady. Since a trumpet has no fixed strings, CleanTune analyzes any pitch chromatically — use the reference tones below to check against a common concert pitch.
Why certain valve combinations run sharp
Trumpet valves don't shorten tubing in perfectly equal proportions, so certain combinations end up slightly sharp compared to their notated pitch — most notably 1-3 and 1-2-3, used for low D, C# and D. Many trumpets include a separate third-valve slide, and sometimes a first-valve trigger, specifically to compensate: extending it slightly for those valve combinations brings the pitch back in line without needing to fight it with the embouchure alone.
Use your main tuning slide
Pull the main tuning slide out to lower your pitch, push it in to raise it. Make small adjustments and re-check.
Warm up before tuning
Pitch drifts as your air and embouchure warm up — tune again after playing for a few minutes.
Check more than one note
Trumpets can run sharp or flat in different registers — spot-check a few notes across your range, not just the tuning note.
Frequently asked questions
What note do you tune a trumpet to?
Most concert bands tune to a concert Bb. Trumpets adjust their main tuning slide against this reference pitch, though some ensembles tune to concert A instead.
Why does my trumpet still sound out of tune after tuning the open Bb?
Trumpets have natural intonation tendencies on certain valve combinations. Use the tuning slide to set your overall reference pitch, then adjust individual notes with your embouchure or third-valve slide.
Can I use this tuner without playing into the microphone?
No — CleanTune listens to real sound through your device's microphone, so you need to play the trumpet normally for it to detect pitch.
Why do some valve combinations sound sharp even when I'm in tune?
Certain fingerings, especially 1-3 and 1-2-3, are acoustically sharp on nearly every trumpet. Extending the third-valve slide (or first-valve trigger, if your horn has one) for those notes compensates without needing embouchure adjustments.