4-string E A D G · 5-string B E A D G
Bass tuner
Pluck one string at a time and see which note it is, and how many cents sharp or flat. Tap a string to hear its note and tune by ear. Standard 4-string tuning, E A D G, with the 5-string's low B in Settings.
How to use it
- Tap Listen and allow the microphone. Pluck one open string firmly and let it ring: the tuner names the note and shows how far off it is. Low notes take a moment longer to settle.
- Turn that string's tuning peg until the needle sits in the middle and it says In tune. For a 5-string, pick Bass (5 string) in Settings. Tap a string to hear its note, if you'd rather tune by ear.
Standard bass tuning
A 4-string bass is tuned E, A, D, G, from the thickest string: the same notes as a guitar's lowest four strings, an octave lower. A 5-string adds a low B below the E. Every pair of neighbouring strings is a fourth apart.
| String | Note | Hz at A440 |
|---|---|---|
| Low B (5-string only) | B0 | 30.87 |
| E | E1 | 41.20 |
| A | A1 | 55.00 |
| D | D2 | 73.42 |
| G | G2 | 98.00 |
Tuning a bass by ear with harmonics
Touch a string lightly, right over the 5th fret, without pressing it down, and pluck: you get a high, bell-like harmonic. The harmonic over the 5th fret of one string matches the harmonic over the 7th fret of the next string up. Tune the E to a reference, then match each pair of harmonics until the wobble between them stops. Harmonics tune pure fourths, each 2 cents (a cent is a hundredth of a semitone) narrower than a piano's, so by the G string you're about 6 cents flat. Check the G against the tuner, or use harmonics only to check strings you've already tuned.
Harmonics are easier to hear in tune than the low open strings, and they ring while you turn the peg. The 5th fret method works too: the E string at the 5th fret gives the open A, and so on across.
Low notes and a phone
A phone's small microphone hears the lowest notes less clearly, so pluck firmly, close to the phone, in a quiet room. If the low B or E reads unsteadily, pick Chromatic in Settings and tune the harmonic over the 12th fret instead: the same note an octave higher, which the microphone hears more easily.
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Questions
What are the notes of a bass guitar?
On a 4-string bass, E, A, D and G, from the thickest string: E1, A1, D2 and G2. A 5-string adds a low B, B0, below the E.
How do I tune a bass without a tuner?
Tune the E string to a reference, then match harmonics: the harmonic over the 5th fret of each string matches the one over the 7th fret of the next string up. Or use the 5th fret: each string at the 5th fret gives the next open string.
Can a phone tune a bass?
Yes, though low notes are harder for a small microphone. Pluck firmly and close to the phone. For the low B or E, tuning the 12th-fret harmonic in Chromatic mode, an octave up, is often steadier.
How is a bass tuned compared with a guitar?
A 4-string bass has the same notes as a guitar's four lowest strings, E A D G, one octave lower.
Is my playing recorded?
No. The microphone opens only when you tap Listen, your bass's pitch is worked out on this device, and nothing is recorded, kept or sent.
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