Untuned

Untuned is an adjective describing something that has not been tuned, calibrated, or adjusted to a reference standard. The term is used across disciplines to indicate a state of non-optimization or a lack of alignment with a desired frequency, pitch, or measurement.

In music, untuned commonly refers to an instrument or voice that has not been brought to the intended pitch. An untuned guitar or piano is not yet set to a standard pitch, such as concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). The distinction between untuned and out of tune is subtle: untuned implies the tuning process has not been performed, while out of tune implies a pitch deviation from the target after tuning. Tuning practices depend on the instrument, musical style, and historical temperament.

In electronics and communications, untuned describes circuits, antennas, or receivers that have not been adjusted to a specific frequency. An untuned radio or antenna responds broadly across frequencies rather than selecting a particular channel, which can reduce selectivity and increase interference. Untuned circuits lack the varactor or variable-capacitor arrangements used to tune to a desired resonant frequency.

In practice, untuned may denote a temporary or incomplete state before proper tuning or calibration. The opposite concepts are tuning and calibration, which aim to align performance with a defined standard or specification.