Before you play a single scale, your Kirar needs to be in tune — and because the Kirar doesn't use fixed frets, tuning is a skill in itself, not a one-time setup step.
Start with your reference note
Pick one string as your reference — often the lowest — and tune the rest of the instrument relative to it. Consistency matters more than hitting an absolute pitch, especially early on: what matters most is that the intervals between strings are correct.
Small adjustments, frequent checks
The Kirar's strings will drift, especially when the instrument is new or the weather changes. Get in the habit of checking tuning every time you sit down to practice, rather than assuming yesterday's tuning still holds.
Tune to the mode you're playing
Because traditional Ethiopian modes like Tizita have their own characteristic intervals, many players adjust their tuning slightly depending on what they're about to play, rather than tuning once to a fixed Western reference.
It gets faster
Tuning by ear feels slow at first. It won't stay that way — within a few weeks of regular practice, most students tune in under a minute. This is one of the very first things we cover, hands-on, in the Beginner course.