UnitBasseThe instrument · Tuning
Bass tuning:
standard, drop D, 5 and 6 strings
A 4-string bass is tuned E, A, D, G, from lowest to highest. With A at 440 Hz, the open strings sound at 41.20, 55, 73.42 and 98 Hz. Here are also drop D, lower tunings, 5 and 6 strings, with the frequency of every string, and how to tune step by step.
Bass tunings and their frequencies
These are the open-string frequencies, with A at 440 Hz, the most common reference. The number after the note is the octave: E1 is the low E of the bass, one octave below the low E of a guitar.
| Tuning | Strings, lowest to highest | Frequencies (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (4 strings) | E1 A1 D2 G2 | 41.20 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 |
| Drop D | D1 A1 D2 G2 | 36.71 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 |
| Half step down | E♭1 A♭1 D♭2 G♭2 | 38.89 · 51.91 · 69.30 · 92.50 |
| Whole step down (D standard) | D1 G1 C2 F2 | 36.71 · 49.00 · 65.41 · 87.31 |
| Drop C | C1 G1 C2 F2 | 32.70 · 49.00 · 65.41 · 87.31 |
| 5 strings, low B (BEADG) | B0 E1 A1 D2 G2 | 30.87 · 41.20 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 |
| 5 strings, high C (EADGC) | E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 | 41.20 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 · 130.81 |
| 6 strings (BEADGC) | B0 E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 | 30.87 · 41.20 · 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 · 130.81 |
| Tenor tuning (ADGC) | A1 D2 G2 C3 | 55.00 · 73.42 · 98.00 · 130.81 |
Standard tuning: E, A, D, G
A 4-string bass is tuned, from lowest to highest, to E, A, D, G. Each string is a fourth above the previous one: the 5th fret of a string gives the note of the next open string. That is what makes scale and chord shapes so regular on the neck.
Drop D and lower tunings
- Drop D: only the E string goes down a whole step, to D. You gain two low notes and one-finger fifths on the two lowest strings. Very common in rock and metal.
- Half step down: every string goes down a half step (E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭). The shapes do not change, everything sounds a half step lower: the tuning of many rock and grunge songs.
- Whole step down, then drop C: for heavier styles. From a whole step down, heavier strings keep a comfortable tension.
5 and 6 strings
A 5-string bass usually adds a low B below the E (B, E, A, D, G): 30.87 Hz, just above the lowest note of a piano (A0, 27.5 Hz). Less often, it adds a high C above the G. A 6-string combines both: B, E, A, D, G, C. All of them keep the fourth between strings: the shapes you learned on 4 strings stay the same. See also switching to 5-string bass.
How to tune your bass, step by step
- Tune up to the note: if the string is sharp, go a little below, then come back up. The string holds its tuning better.
- Start with the E string, then A, D and G. After the first pass, do it again: the tension of one string slightly changes the others.
- Check by ear: the 5th fret of a string should sound like the next open string.
- Check the intonation: the note at the 12th fret should match the 12th-fret harmonic, one octave above the open string. If not, adjust the saddle (see bass setup).
With UnitBasse
The UnitBasse tuner is a tuner pedal with a needle or a strobe, accurate to the cent, with a reference adjustable from 430 to 450 Hz. In the Scales tab, the neck can be shown in standard tuning, drop D, half step down or 5 strings (B, E, A, D, G): the scales follow the chosen tuning.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the bass strings?
In standard tuning, from lowest to highest: E, A, D, G, one octave below the four lowest strings of a guitar.
What is the frequency of the low E string?
41.20 Hz, with A at 440 Hz. The A string is at 55 Hz, D at 73.42 Hz and G at 98 Hz.
Do I need new strings to tune lower?
Not for a half step down or drop D. For a whole step or more, heavier strings keep a good tension. After a lasting change of tuning, check the intonation and the neck relief.
Needle or strobe tuner?
A needle is enough to tune quickly. A strobe is more precise: it shows the slightest deviation, which helps when setting the intonation at the 12th fret.