Bass Guitar Tuner (EADG)
Tune your 4-string bass to standard EADG online in seconds.
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Bass tuning reference
Notes low to high: E A D G
| String | Note | Frequency | Vs. standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th (lowest, thickest) | E1 | 41.20 Hz | same |
| 3rd | A1 | 55.00 Hz | same |
| 2nd | D2 | 73.42 Hz | same |
| 1st (highest, thinnest) | G2 | 98.00 Hz | same |
How to tune to Bass
- 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.
- 3Plug in or mic up cleanly. Plug into a small amp or DI box and put your phone or laptop mic in front of the speaker, or play the bass acoustically right next to the mic. Either works, just avoid a distorted signal.
- 4Tune 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.
What is Bass tuning
Standard 4-string bass tuning is EADG, one full octave below the bottom four strings of a guitar. From thickest to thinnest: E1, A1, D2, G2. It's the tuning nearly every bass method book, tab chart, and band assumes by default, across genres from funk and R&B to rock and country.
The low E string is the hardest note on the instrument for a tuner to read cleanly. At roughly 41 Hz it has a long wavelength and a fundamental near the bottom of what most microphones capture well, and strong harmonics an octave and an octave-plus-a-fifth above it can pull a simple tuner off the true pitch. A bass-specific tuner mode uses a bigger analysis window and a tighter frequency range to lock onto the fundamental instead of a harmonic.
Players moving beyond standard 4-string range usually add strings rather than change the tuning of the existing four: a 5-string adds a low B below the E, and a 6-string adds a high C above the G, but EADG stays the core across nearly every style of bass playing.
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, A1, D2, G2.
Why is the low E so hard for tuners to pick up?
At around 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 can confuse simple tuners, they latch onto the harmonic instead of the fundamental. This tuner uses a bigger analysis window and tighter frequency range in 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, that gives the cleanest signal. Or play the bass acoustically, unplugged, right next to the mic, which works on most basses. 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 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 mean smaller 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.
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If your guitar still doesn't sound right after tuning to Bass, buzzy frets, intonation drift up the neck, or action that fights you, a proper setup will change everything. Based in Pikeville, NC, serving Goldsboro and Wayne County.