Musical tuning to the fundamental note of the unstopped, full string. The strings of a guitar are normally tuned to fourths (excepting the G and B strings in standard tuning, which are tuned to a third), as are the strings of the bass guitar and double bass. Violin, viola, and cello strings are tuned to fifths. However, non-standard tunings (called scordatura) exist to change the sound of the instrument or create other playing options. To tune an instrument, often only one reference pitch is given. This reference is used to tune one string, to which the other strings are tuned in the
Basic physics of the violin pitch, which may be described in terms of frequency. The playing tension of a violin string ranges from about to . The length of the string also influences its pitch, and is the basis for how a violin is played. Violinists "stop" a string with a left-hand fingertip, shortening its playing length. Most often the string is stopped against the violin's fingerboard, but in some cases fingertip contact alone is enough to stop the string at the desired sounding length. Stopping the string at a shorter length has the effect of raising its pitch. String material affects the quality of