Tuning a Zither / Lap Harp to G Major with a Free Digital Tuning App

In this video, I show how I tune one of my zithers, using a free tuning app on my iPad called "Pano Tuner". You can get all kinds of free digital tuners, I just happened to download "Pano Tuner". I sell many books of music for these beautiful instruments. Please visit www.WorldofHarmonyMusic.com for information. Please also visit www.AppalachianSpiritFolkInstruments.com to buy hand crafted zithers like this one. Thanks!
Debbie Center :)

[@hannahl4108]

Thank you so much for posting this! I had gotten a "music maker" from a homeschool used curriculum sale last year, and I haven't touched it snice then. I picked it up today, and I just finished getting it in tune! It makes such a gorgeous sound now! Thank you again for making this! :)

[@Pianomam]

Hi Jeanne. I sneak up verrrrry slowly because if I do it quickly, I'll break the strings. If a zither is terribly out of tune, I'll take a couple days to tune it, sneaking the strings a bit closer with each tuning, and letting them stretch and settle into place. It's a real pain, but replacing so strings is zero fun. Not sure about your tuner vs a 440 tuner, sorry. Good luck to you! Debbie.

[@WorldofHarmonyMusic]

Ken Digweed, I just went to the App Store on my phone and did a search for "digital tuner". This one came up, called "Pano Tuner", but there are many available.

[@_jurk]

Hi, Thanks for the tip! I've got a 36 string zither and would like to tune it to G pentatonic. Standard tuning is chromatic thought so with the pentatonic scale some strings would really have to be tuned up a bit. Could you give me some advice as to how to get this done? I was already looking at at sheet with string diamaters and suggested keys (for the strings) to see if i should buy multiple string-sets and - if so - what strings would be closed to the desired notes/keys of G pentatonic (so I won't have to tune them up so much as I already broke two🥺). Is that something you would recommend or should is just take it really slow like you are doing here.

[@outoftheboxwoodworks7560]

Thank you

[@cheynehosking4143]

Hi there. Great video. I picked up a little zippy zither. Do you know the tuning for those by chance?

[@martslittlediyshop8670]

Marten, Thanks, works great!

[@albertsciarronsky2251]

Good evening I bought a 15 string zither in the key of c. How should I tuned it? Should be the first string (c) higher than the one in g or not?

[@jeannemccall1019]

Thanks for sharing. I just bought a lap harp and am frustrated because it is so out of tune. I noticed in your video that you are advancing closer to the true note very slowly, why are you doing this? I think it may be my problem. I am using an auto tuner, but it is a 435 Hz and I read we need to use a 440 Hz, do you know what the difference is?

[@cindyangel9253]

+Jeanne McCall she is going slowly to avoid breaking a string, and is going through all of the notes 4 times. You may be able to calibrate your electronic tuner to 440 look for the word calibrate or if in doubt about up and down, you might be able to find it in the instructions, if it came with any. Hope this helps..

[@nellim9239]

432 hz is healing

[@Meghan83]

Is the bottone note G3 or G4?

[@cathiesunday]

I acquired a used zither manufactured by Small World Toys. Unfortunately, it is very out of tune and did NOT come with the tuning key. I have ordered two different keys from Amazon and neither one fits. My local music store did not have one either, but suggested I use a needle nosed pliers and a cloth. I've been trying this with little success. Do you know where I can find the correct tuning key?

[@jackarouu8284]

Buy a cheap socket set at target or Big Lots. you should find a socket small enough to fit.

[@jennifrog2425]

Did you find one which works?

[@blackcatgraphics1483]

You would need a tap socket, which has a four sided hole rather than a standard socket which is six sided. You'd have to measure the width of the tuning peg to know which size socket to buy.

[@Ryansssssssssssss]

I am confused I got one of these at a thrift store and each string connects to another tuner so if you tune one the other goes out of tune.

[@kimtoy6035]

Methinks that's why you start tuning with the bottom/longest string

[@4vrceltic]

Is the bottom string tuned to G or G#? Are all strings tuned as; A,B,C,D,E,F,G, or are they all sharps or flats? Thank you

[@WorldofHarmonyMusic]

Hi! From bottom to top, tune to G A B C D E F# G A B C D E F# G. This is a 2-octave G major scale. Hope that helps! Debbie :)

[@RadiantJasmin]

@@WorldofHarmonyMusic Thank You! I was just given a zither with 2 broken strings and it needs to fully tuned, this is so helpful!

[@johnwallace8026]

hahaha Very well Done-

[@WorldofHarmonyMusic]

Hey thanks, John! Debbie :)

[@sadeegoesfishing]

app????

[@kendigweed]

where did you get the Digital tuner from please?

[@Raspberryclouds8769]

It’s a free app called pano tuner

[@zendocOM]

I am missing the first (longest) string on a Music Maker zither that I found at a thrift store. Where might I find a replacement string? Thanks!

[@KarenGroningen]

It is a late reaction, but I only just became interested in Lap harps. I have come across several webshops that sell strings. One is in the Netherlands: www.wolthuis.nl/product/snaren/ where you can choose which one you need.

[@KarenGroningen]

translated from Dutch it says: 0,25 mm for the top 3 loops of string b” - g”’ 0,35 mm for the middle 4 loops of string a’ - a” 0,55 mm for the lowest (thickest) string g’