OnlineViolinTuner.com is committed to making its tools and educational content accessible to the widest possible range of users, including people with disabilities. This statement explains our current accessibility status, the known limitations of our tools for certain users, what we have implemented to support accessibility, and how to contact us if you encounter a barrier.
Our Commitment
We believe that anyone interested in violin tuning science, string instrument acoustics, or violin playing fundamentals deserves access to tools and information that help them explore it — regardless of disability, device, or technical setup.
OnlineViolinTuner.com aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA — the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. When barriers are identified — through our own review or through user feedback — we work to address them.
Current Accessibility Status
OnlineViolinTuner.com is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Known gaps are disclosed in the Limitations section below.
What we have implemented
Keyboard navigation. Core site navigation — menus, links, and page structure — is accessible via keyboard. Users who cannot use a mouse can navigate between sections using the Tab key and activate links with Enter.
Text readability. Body text is set at a minimum of 16px with sufficient line spacing. Heading levels (H1, H2, H3) follow correct hierarchical order throughout the site, allowing screen readers to navigate content structure logically.
Colour contrast. Text and background colour combinations meet or exceed the WCAG 2.1 Level AA minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
Descriptive link text. Links describe their destination — not generic phrases such as “click here” or “read more.”
Alt text on images. Meaningful images include descriptive alt text. Decorative images use empty alt attributes so screen readers skip them appropriately.
Responsive design. The site adapts to screen sizes from small mobile devices to large desktop monitors without horizontal scrolling at standard zoom levels up to 200%.
No auto-playing media. No audio plays automatically without user action.
Page titles. Every page has a unique, descriptive title tag.
Skip navigation link. A “Skip to content” link is available at the top of every page, allowing keyboard and screen reader users to bypass navigation and reach page content directly.
Known Limitations
Microphone Tuning Mode
The microphone-based tuning mode requires:
- A functioning device microphone
- The ability to produce sound on a violin or other string instrument
Users who do not have a microphone available or who are unable to play a string instrument cannot use the microphone tuning mode. This is an inherent constraint of the tool’s purpose — the tuner measures pitches produced by a physical instrument — not a design oversight.
Real-time display accessibility. During active tuning, the cents deviation display and needle indicator update continuously as the string is played. These rapidly updating values are not currently announced by screen readers during active tuning sessions, as frequent live announcements would interfere with the tuning process. The note name and in-tune/sharp/flat status are the primary accessible outputs. We are working to improve ARIA live region implementation for the status indicator to ensure screen reader users receive audible confirmation of tuning status without excessive announcement frequency.
Reference Tone Mode
The reference tone mode plays the correct pitch of each open string as an audio reference tone. Users tune by ear, listening for beats between their string and the reference tone.
Hearing dependency. The reference tone mode is an audio-only output. Users who are deaf or have severe hearing impairment cannot perceive the reference tone and therefore cannot use this mode for ear-based tuning. The interface controls — string selection buttons, volume, start and stop — are fully keyboard accessible. Only the audio output itself is hearing-dependent.
Tuning as an Audio-Dependent Activity
Violin tuning is inherently an audio-dependent activity. Both tuning modes — detecting pitch acoustically and matching pitch by ear — require interaction with sound. Users who are deaf or cannot hear the instrument being played cannot perform the core tuning function regardless of accessibility improvements to the interface.
We acknowledge this limitation transparently. The educational content on this site — articles about violin tuning science, string physics, pitch theory, and violin technique — is fully accessible to screen readers and keyboard navigation and provides meaningful value independent of the interactive tuning tools.
Text Alternatives and Accessible Content
For users who cannot use the interactive tuning tools, the following educational content is fully accessible without audio interaction:
- How It Works — technical explanation of pitch detection, string frequencies, and tuning methodology
- Violin FAQ — comprehensive answers about violin tuning, string notes, tuning order, and technique
- About — site mission, string frequency table, tuning standards
- About the Author — Mason’s background and research areas
The string frequency reference — G3 (196.00 Hz), D4 (293.66 Hz), A4 (440.00 Hz), E5 (659.25 Hz) — is documented in text on multiple pages and accessible without any tool interaction.
Assistive Technology Compatibility
OnlineViolinTuner.com has been tested for basic compatibility with:
- Screen readers: NVDA with Chrome (Windows), VoiceOver with Safari (macOS and iOS)
- Keyboard-only navigation: Tested in Chrome and Firefox on Windows
- Browser zoom: Content tested at 200% zoom without loss of content or functionality
- High contrast mode: Core content remains readable in Windows High Contrast mode
We recommend using an up-to-date version of Chrome or Firefox with your preferred assistive technology.
Third-Party Advertising
This site may display advertisements served by Google AdSense. The accessibility of individual ad creatives is outside our direct control as ads are provided by third-party advertisers.
Feedback and Contact
We welcome accessibility feedback. If you experience a barrier on any page or tool — a control that cannot be reached by keyboard, a result not accessible to your screen reader, or any other accessibility issue — please contact us.
Contact: onlineviolintuner.com/contact
Please include the page or tool, the assistive technology and browser you were using, and a description of what you expected and what happened. We review all accessibility feedback personally and aim to respond within 7 business days.
Formal Complaints
If you are not satisfied with our response to an accessibility concern, you may contact the relevant national enforcement body in your country. In the United Kingdom, this is the Equality and Human Rights Commission. In the United States, the relevant body depends on the context of the complaint.
Review Schedule
This accessibility statement is reviewed and updated at least once per year, or whenever significant changes are made to the site’s tools or structure.
Related Pages
- How It Works — how the tuner detects and displays pitch
- Violin FAQ — common questions about tuning
- Contact — report an accessibility barrier
This Accessibility Statement is written and maintained by Mason, founder of OnlineViolinTuner.com. Last updated: June 2026.