Bass guitar tuning (E A D G)
Every bassist. This is the tuning of nearly every record you own.
A 4-string bass in standard tuning is E A D G: the same four notes as the lowest four strings of a guitar, one octave lower. E1 is 41.2 Hz, deep enough that you feel it as much as hear it.
Because every string is a fourth apart, the same scale and chord-tone shapes work from any string, which is one reason bass lines fall under the fingers so quickly.
Notes and frequencies
From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). This is the reference every other 4-string bass tuning is measured against.
| String | Note | Frequency (A4 = 440 Hz) | Change from standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | E1 | 41.20 Hz | as standard |
| 3 | A1 | 55.00 Hz | as standard |
| 2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz | as standard |
| 1 | G2 | 98.00 Hz | as standard |
Tuning to Standard in TuneGlass
- Open Settings and choose 4-string bass.
- Standard tuning is already selected. Play any string: the dial shows the nearest string and how far off it is.
- Play one string at a time. The needle turns green and the scale fills when the string is in tune. Hold a string circle to hear its reference note.
Tips
- Low notes take longer to register on a tuner because the wave itself is long. Pluck once, let it ring a second, then read the needle.
- Pluck over the end of the fingerboard rather than at the bridge for a cleaner fundamental; near the bridge the harmonics dominate and tuners read them an octave up.
- In TuneGlass choose 4-string bass in Settings: the app lengthens its window and listens down to 28 Hz.
Questions
What are the notes on a bass guitar?
E A D G from the thickest string up, one octave below the four lowest guitar strings: E1 41.20 Hz, A1 55.00 Hz, D2 73.42 Hz and G2 98.00 Hz.
Can a guitar tuner tune a bass?
A chromatic tuner can, if its microphone and detector reach low enough. TuneGlass has a dedicated bass mode that extends its range for exactly this.
Related tunings
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