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Bass guitar tuning

Standard bass tuning is E A D G, from the lowest, thickest string to the highest: E1 A1 D2 G2, an octave below a guitar’s four lowest strings. Tap a string to hear it.

Tap a string to hear its note, then tune yours to match.

How the bass guitar is tuned

A four-string bass has a guitar’s four lowest strings, E A D G, an octave down. Each string is a fourth above the one below it, so the 5th fret of each string is the next string’s open note.

A five-string bass adds a low B below the E, B0 at 30.87 Hz. A six-string adds a high C above the G as well. Drop D lowers only the E string, to D.

Bass guitar string notes

Each open string in standard tuning, from the 1st to the 4th, with the frequency a tuner looks for.

Bass guitar tuning: each string’s note and frequency, with A4 at 440 Hz
StringNoteFrequency
1stG298 Hz
2ndD273.42 Hz
3rdA155 Hz
4thE141.2 Hz

Every other note’s frequency is on the note frequency chart.

How to tune a bass guitar by ear

Tune one string to a tuner or its button above, and the others follow from it.

  1. Tune the 4th string, E, to E1 (41.2 Hz), against a tuner or the 4th string’s button above.
  2. Play the 4th string at the 5th fret, A, and tune the open 3rd string to match it.
  3. Play the 3rd string at the 5th fret, D, and tune the open 2nd string to match it.
  4. Play the 2nd string at the 5th fret, G, and tune the open 1st string to match it.

A string tuned up to its note holds its pitch better, so to lower one, go a little below the note and come back up to it.

Bass guitar tunings

Each tuning’s notes in string order, and when it is used. Pick one above to hear its strings.

Bass guitar tunings: the notes of each, in string order, and when it is used
TuningNotesUsed for
4-stringE A D GThe bass most players start on and most songs are written for.
5-stringB E A D GA low B under the E, for the low notes of metal, gospel and modern pop.
Drop DD A D GThe low E down a whole step, for riffs in D without a fifth string.
6-stringB E A D G CA low B and a high C, for chords and solos as well as the low end.

The note on every fret in each of these tunings is on the bass fretboard page.

Questions about bass guitar tuning

What are the notes of the bass strings?

E A D G, from the 4th string, the lowest, to the 1st: E1 A1 D2 G2. The open E is 41.2 Hz.

How is a 5-string bass tuned?

B E A D G, from the lowest string: a low B, B0 at 30.87 Hz, under the four strings of a standard bass.

What is drop D tuning on a bass?

D A D G: the E string down a whole step to D, the rest as standard. It gives a low D without a fifth string.

Is a bass tuned like a guitar?

Like a guitar’s four lowest strings, E A D G, an octave lower. A guitarist’s shapes on those strings work on a bass.

More instrument tunings

Guitar tuning

E A D G B E

Standard, drop D, open G, DADGAD and ten more, each to hear.

Ukulele tuning

G C E A

Standard, low G, baritone and D tuning, with the high G explained.

Banjo tuning

G D G B D

Open G for bluegrass, then double C, open D, G modal and tenor.

Mandolin tuning

G D A E

G D A E in four pairs, like a violin, plus mandola and octave.

Violin tuning

G D A E

Four strings in fifths from the A at 440 Hz, plus cross tunings.

Viola tuning

C G D A

A violin’s G, D and A with a low C in place of the E.

Cello tuning

C G D A

The viola’s four notes an octave lower, down to C2 at 65 Hz.

Every instrument’s standard tuning, side by side, is on the tunings page.

Play along in E minor

Open the free editor with a beat in E minor playing, tune up and play your bass guitar along with it, then add a melody or your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Start a beatAll tunings

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