hangoló

Hangoló is a Hungarian term used for a device or person that determines or adjusts the pitch of sounds. The word combines hang, meaning sound, with -oló, a suffix indicating an agent. In practice, hangoló can refer to both tuners used by musicians and the technicians who adjust instrument pitch.

There are manual and electronic hangolók. Manual references include tuning forks and pitch pipes that provide fixed reference tones. Electronic tuners include handheld devices, guitar pedal tuners, strobe tuners, and software applications that analyze the sound and display the detected pitch and how far it is from the target frequency.

Use of a hangoló typically involves producing a reference pitch or playing a note and adjusting the instrument until the pitch matches the reference. For stringed instruments, this means turning tuning pegs or fine tuners to raise or lower string tension; for pianos and other fixed-pitch instruments, professional technicians adjust tuning pins or other components as needed. Singers and vocalists may also use tuners as practice aids to improve intonation.

History and development: The concept predates electronic devices, but tuners have evolved from mechanical reference pitches to electronic and digital tools. Electronic tuners became widespread in the late 20th century and remain common in music education, performance, and recording.

See also: hangolás, tuning fork, electronic tuner, piano tuner.