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Bass tuner
Tune a 4, 5, or 6-string bass with your microphone, down to the low B.
Bass 4-String
Start tuner
Your browser asks for the microphone when you press Start. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Tap a string to hear it and tune that string.
A 4-string bass is tuned E A D G, an octave below the four lowest strings of a guitar. A 5-string adds a low B under the E, and a 6-string adds a high C as well.
Bass notes are low enough that phone and laptop microphones hear them faintly. This tuner listens down to 30 Hz, so it reads even a 5-string's low B at 30.87 Hz. Pluck firmly and hold the device close to the bass or the amp.
Bass 4-String: notes and frequencies
| String | Note | Pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | E | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3 | A | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2 | D | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1 | G | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
Bass 5-String: notes and frequencies
| String | Note | Pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | B | B0 | 30.87 Hz |
| 4 | E | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3 | A | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2 | D | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1 | G | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
Bass Drop D: notes and frequencies
| String | Note | Pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | D | D1 | 36.71 Hz |
| 3 | A | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2 | D | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1 | G | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
Tune to standard bass tuning by ear
Tune string 4 (E1) to a reference first: tap it in the tuner above, or use a piano or another instrument. Then tune each string to one that is already in tune:
- Play string 4 at fret 5, then tune open string 3 until the two sound the same (A1).
- Play string 3 at fret 5, then tune open string 2 until the two sound the same (D2).
- Play string 2 at fret 5, then tune open string 1 until the two sound the same (G2).
Tips for tuning a bass
- Use the 12th fret harmonic
- Touch the string lightly right over the 12th fret and pluck. The harmonic sounds an octave higher and comes through a small microphone more clearly; the tuner shows it as the same note an octave up.
- Pluck with a finger
- A steady fingerstyle pluck gives a cleaner, longer note than a pick attack, and the reading settles faster.
- Tune up to the note
- Heavy bass strings creep back if you tune down onto a note. Go below it and bring the string up.
- Bass Drop D
- Drop D on bass lowers the E string a whole step to D, for songs that go below E. Pick Bass Drop D in the tuner.
Learning a bass line?
Upload the song or a recording, and Tabtify turns it into bass tab you can play along with, edit, and export.
Turn a recording into tabBass tuner FAQ
What are the notes of standard bass tuning?
From string 4 to string 1: E1, A1, D2, G2. With A4 at 440 Hz, that is 41.20 Hz, 55.00 Hz, 73.42 Hz, 98.00 Hz.
What are the notes of a 5-string bass?
B E A D G, from the 5th string to the 1st: B0 at 30.87 Hz, then E1, A1, D2, and G2.
Can I tune a bass with a guitar tuner?
Yes, if the tuner hears low enough to read a bass's E at 41.2 Hz and B at 30.87 Hz. This one does, and its Bass mode marks each string as you get it in tune.
Why does my phone struggle with the low E or B?
Small microphones pick up little energy below about 60 Hz. Pluck harder, move the phone closer to the bass or amp, or tune with the 12th fret harmonic.