Pitch matching test
Hear a note, sing it back, and see live how close you are, in cents. Five notes, then your average.
Pitch matching means singing the note you just heard. This test plays a note, listens to you sing it back, and measures the difference in cents (100 cents = one semitone). Within 50 cents most people hear you as in tune; under 15 cents is excellent. Any octave counts, and nothing is recorded.
How it works
- Pick the range that suits your voice.
- Listen to the note, then sing it on “ah” and hold it steady for one second.
- The gauge shows live if you're flat or sharp. After a steady second, the note is scored.
- Five notes, then your average error and a link to share it.
About your microphone
- Why: to hear the note you sing and compare it with the one you heard.
- What happens: the sound is analysed live, in this browser, a few dozen times per second. Nothing is recorded, stored or sent, not even to us.
- You stay in control: a Stop button turns it off, and leaving or hiding the page turns it off too.
Your browser will ask for permission. Sing in a quiet room, about an arm's length from the phone or laptop. On iPhone, the page may sound quieter while the microphone is on; headphones help.
Waiting for your browser's permission prompt… (look near the address bar)
Microphone on, analysed on this device only
The microphone is blocked
No problem, and nothing was recorded. If you change your mind: open your browser's site settings for this page, allow the microphone, then reload.
No microphone found
This device has no microphone the browser can use. Plug in a headset or try on your phone.
The microphone is busy
Another app or tab is using it (a call, a recorder). Close it, then try again.
This browser can't use the microphone here
Microphone access needs a recent browser (Safari 14.3 or later on iPhone, or current Chrome, Edge or Firefox). In-app browsers (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) often block it: open this page in Safari or Chrome.
Turn your sound on. On iPhone, the silent switch also mutes this page.
Sing the note back
Slider version: match the note by ear
Move the slider until your tone sounds exactly like the target, then lock it in. This checks how finely you hear pitch; the microphone version checks your voice.
Your pitch matching
How close is close enough?
| Error | Grade | What it sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 15 cents | Spot on | in tune to almost any listener |
| 16 to 30 cents | Very close | a trained ear may notice |
| 31 to 50 cents | Close | slightly flat or sharp |
| 51 to 100 cents | Within a semitone | clearly off, but near the right note |
| Over 100 cents | Off | a different note |
How do I sing more in tune?
- Listen first, then hear the note in your head before you sing (this is called audiation).
- Start on a comfortable note in the middle of your range; extremes are harder to control.
- Slide slowly toward the note while watching the gauge, then hold it. Your ear learns from the feedback.
- Practise a few minutes a day rather than once a week.
How the test measures you
- The microphone is analysed about 60 times per second with the YIN pitch algorithm, in your browser only. It is paused while the reference note plays, so it never hears the speakers.
- A note is scored once you hold it steady (within half a semitone) for one second; your error is the median of that steady second, so the slide in and small wobbles don't count against you.
- Errors are folded to the nearest octave: singing an octave below the reference is on pitch.
- Reference notes are synthesised at A4 = 440 Hz, from A2 to A3 (lower voices) or A3 to A4 (higher voices).
Frequently asked questions
What is pitch matching?
Singing (or playing) the same note you just heard. It is the basic skill behind singing in tune, and it combines hearing the pitch with controlling your voice.
How accurate should my pitch be?
Within about 50 cents (half a semitone) most listeners hear a note as roughly in tune; trained singers usually land within 10 to 20 cents on a held note. This test grades under 15 cents as spot on.
Why does singing an octave lower count?
Men usually sing an octave below a note in the women's range, and that is still the same note name. The test folds the octave, so only how sharp or flat you are counts.
Can I improve my pitch matching?
Yes. Pitch matching improves with practice and feedback for almost everyone: hear, sing, check, adjust. A few minutes a day with live feedback, like this page gives, is a good routine.
Is my voice recorded?
No. The microphone is analysed live in your browser to measure the pitch; no audio is stored or sent, and it turns off when you stop or leave the page.