Bass Tuner: Tune 4 and 5 String Bass Online
This bass tuner online hears each low string through your mic and shows the note, the cents, and the frequency in Hz
- Free, no ads
- 4 and 5 string, down to low B
- Sound stays on your device
How to tune a bass
- 1
Press Start and allow the microphone. Choose 4 string, 5 string, drop D, or D standard under Tuning.
- 2
Pluck one open string firmly and let it ring. You see that string with its cents and Hz.
- 3
Turn the tuning key until you see In tune. Start with the lowest string and work up to G.
Bass string notes
A 4 string bass is tuned E A D G, one octave below the four low strings of a guitar. 5 string bass tuning adds a low B: B E A D G
| String | Note and frequency at A4 = 440 Hz |
|---|---|
| Low B, 5 string only | B0, 30.87 Hz |
| E string | E1, 41.20 Hz |
| A string | A1, 55.00 Hz |
| D string | D2, 73.42 Hz |
| G string | G2, 98.00 Hz |
| Low D in drop D | D1, 36.71 Hz, one octave below the open D string |
Low string tips
Use the 12th fret harmonic
Low frequencies are hard for a phone mic. If the low E or B gives no steady reading, touch the string lightly over the 12th fret and pluck. The harmonic sounds one octave higher. Read it on the chromatic tuner, which names any note: the E string harmonic is E2.
Check the active bass battery
If you tune through an amp, a weak 9 V battery in an active bass makes the sound thin and broken up, and the reading jumps. Change the battery, or tune the bass unplugged with the mic close to the strings.
Pluck soft and long
Pluck with the side of a finger, not a slap. A long, even note gives the tuner more time to read a low pitch.
Drop D on bass
Pick Drop D in the Tuning list. Only the E string changes: tune it down a whole step to D1. Then play it with the open D string: both are D, one octave apart.
Questions
- What are the bass string notes?
- E1, A1, D2, and G2 on a 4 string bass, from the thick string to the thin one. A 5 string bass adds B0 below the E.
- Why does my tuner not pick up the low E string?
- The low E is 41.2 Hz, and many phone mics hear little sound that low. They pick up mostly the higher overtones. Hold the phone close to the bass, pluck firmly, and let the note ring. If the reading still jumps, use the 12th fret harmonic.
- How do I tune a 5 string bass?
- Pick 5 string: B E A D G. Tune the low B to B0, 30.87 Hz, then E, A, D, and G. With that preset, you have a 5 string bass tuner.
- How do I tune a bass to drop D?
- Pick Drop D: D A D G, and tune only the low string down a whole step, to D1. Drop D bass tuning keeps the A, D, and G strings as they are.
- Can I tune a bass with a guitar tuner?
- A chromatic tuner works, because it reads any note. A guitar preset does not: its strings are one octave higher, so it lights the wrong string. Use a bass tuning in the Tuning list.
- Are there good free bass tuning apps?
- Many apps are free with ads or paid extras. You need no bass tuner app: tune in the browser, free, with no sign-up and no ads. The Tuning list has 4 string, 5 string, drop D, and D standard.
- How do I tune a bass guitar?
- Tune one string at a time, from E to G. Play each string open and turn its key until you see In tune. Check all four again, because the neck moves as the tension changes. This bass guitar tuner works the same for a 4 string or a 5 string.
Is it private?
Yes. This online bass tuner listens only inside this browser tab. No sound is sent anywhere or saved. Press Stop, and the microphone turns off.
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