Free Online Bass Guitar Tuner
Tune your 4-string bass to standard EADG right in your browser. Tuned for low frequencies — bigger analysis window and tighter harmonic rejection so the needle stays steady on the low E.
Standard 4-string bass tuning
One octave below guitar's bottom four strings.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4th (lowest, thickest) | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3rd | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2nd | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1st (highest, thinnest) | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
How to tune your bass
Cleaner signal in, cleaner reading out.
- 1Kill the effects. Bypass any pedals — especially distortion, chorus, and compression. They smear the fundamental and confuse pitch detection. Clean signal only.
- 2Pluck firmly, mute the rest. Bass strings ring out longer than guitar — let one string play at a time. Palm-mute the others. Pluck near the neck for a rounder fundamental, not by the bridge.
- 3Tune up to pitch, not down. Always end by tightening into the note from below. Tuning down into pitch leaves slack in the tuning peg gears, and the string drifts flat as you play.
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Frequently asked
What is standard bass guitar tuning?
Standard 4-string bass tuning is EADG — one full octave below the bottom four strings of a guitar. From thickest to thinnest: E1 (41.20 Hz), A1 (55 Hz), D2 (73.42 Hz), G2 (98 Hz).
Why is the low E so hard for tuners to pick up?
At 41 Hz, the bass low E has a long wavelength and a fundamental frequency near the bottom of what most mics can capture cleanly. Strong harmonics at 82 Hz and 123 Hz can confuse simple tuners — they latch onto the harmonic instead of the fundamental. This tuner uses a bigger analysis window and tighter frequency range when set to bass mode to lock onto the true low note.
How should I plug in or mic up the bass?
Two options. Plug into a small amp or DI box and put your phone or laptop mic in front of the speaker — gives the cleanest signal. Or play the bass acoustically (unplugged) right next to the mic — works on most basses, just pluck firmly and stay close. Avoid distortion, chorus, or compression pedals while tuning — they smear the fundamental.
What about 5-string and 6-string bass?
5-string bass adds a low B string (B0 ≈ 30.87 Hz) below the E. 6-string adds a high C above the G. This tuner is set up for 4-string EADG. For 5-string, tune the B by ear once the other four are set, or by harmonic at the 7th fret matching the open A's pitch class.
How often should I tune my bass?
Bass strings hold tune better than guitar — heavier strings, lower tension changes from temperature. Check at the start of each playing session. New strings (especially roundwounds) stretch for a few days — re-tune several times until they settle.
Bass not staying in tune?
Common culprits: worn nut slots binding the strings, old strings that have lost their core tension, or a neck that needs truss rod adjustment. A proper setup dials it all in. Based in Pikeville, NC, serving Goldsboro and Wayne County.