Bass tuner for 4, 5 and 6-string bass
The low notes of a bass are the hardest for a phone microphone to pick up. This tuner rebuilds the fundamental from the harmonics and stays reliable all the way down to the low B of a 5-string bass, at 30.87 Hz.
The microphone is only requested when you tap the button. Sound is analysed on your device; nothing is recorded. Open the full app
How to tune your bass in 5 steps
- Choose your instrument: 4, 5 or 6-string bass, or one of the alternate tunings on offer.
- For an electric bass, plug it into an amp at moderate volume or rest the phone against the body, near the pickups.
- Pluck the string with your index finger or thumb, over the pickup, and let it ring for one or two seconds: the attack, which is always slightly sharp, is ignored.
- Tune up to the note, starting slightly below, until the indicator is centered.
- Check every string again: on a long neck, each string you tighten affects the others.
Notes and frequencies
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E1 | Mi0 | 41.20 |
| 2 | A1 | La0 | 55.00 |
| 3 | D2 | Ré1 | 73.42 |
| 4 | G2 | Sol1 | 98.00 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “4-string standard”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B0 | Si−1 | 30.87 |
| 2 | E1 | Mi0 | 41.20 |
| 3 | A1 | La0 | 55.00 |
| 4 | D2 | Ré1 | 73.42 |
| 5 | G2 | Sol1 | 98.00 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “5-string (low B)”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B0 | Si−1 | 30.87 |
| 2 | E1 | Mi0 | 41.20 |
| 3 | A1 | La0 | 55.00 |
| 4 | D2 | Ré1 | 73.42 |
| 5 | G2 | Sol1 | 98.00 |
| 6 | C3 | Do2 | 130.81 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “6-string”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D1 | Ré0 | 36.71 |
| 2 | A1 | La0 | 55.00 |
| 3 | D2 | Ré1 | 73.42 |
| 4 | G2 | Sol1 | 98.00 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “4-string drop D”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♭1 | Mi♭0 | 38.89 |
| 2 | A♭1 | La♭0 | 51.91 |
| 3 | D♭2 | Ré♭1 | 69.30 |
| 4 | G♭2 | Sol♭1 | 92.50 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “4-string half step down”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B0 | Si−1 | 30.87 |
| 2 | E1 | Mi0 | 41.20 |
| 3 | A1 | La0 | 55.00 |
| 4 | D2 | Ré1 | 73.42 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “4-string BEAD”
Bass string notes
A 4-string bass is tuned E, A, D, G, like the four lowest strings of a guitar but one octave lower. The lowest string is E1 at 41.20 Hz, followed by A1 at 55 Hz, D2 at 73.42 Hz and G2 at 98 Hz.
A 5-string bass usually adds a low B below the E: B0 at 30.87 Hz. A 6-string bass also adds a high C, C3 at 130.81 Hz. All strings are a fourth apart, so fingerings stay the same from one string to the next.
Why low notes are a problem for phones
Phone and laptop microphones are designed for the voice. They pick up frequencies below 80 to 100 Hz poorly, exactly where a bass's E, A and B strings sit. What the phone mostly hears are the harmonics, the multiples of the note being played.
The tuner accounts for this: it reconstructs the fundamental from those harmonics instead of simply taking the loudest frequency, which avoids mistaking the note for its upper octave. On a real bass, accuracy stays around ±2 to 3 cents, below the perception threshold of about 5 cents.
If detection hesitates: three tips
- Hold the phone a few centimeters from the string or from the amp speaker.
- Turn on the 12th-fret harmonic option and lightly touch the string above the 12th fret: the note sounds an octave higher, where the microphone is comfortable, and the tuner compares it with the right target. The low B at 30.87 Hz thus becomes a B at 61.74 Hz.
- Switch off effects (octaver, chorus, distortion) and turn down the bass on the EQ, which shakes the speaker without helping the measurement.
Alternate bass tunings
Drop D lowers the E string to D, at 36.71 Hz: handy for songs in D and for playing alongside a guitar that is also in drop D. Half-step-down tuning (E♭) follows guitarists who tune that way. B-E-A-D tuning on a 4-string gives you the low range of a 5-string without changing instruments.
Be careful: taking the low string down to B requires a heavier gauge, otherwise it buzzes and sounds flabby. Conversely, raising a string above its original note brings it closer to breaking. The tuner warns you when a tuning change makes strings go up and flags a string tuned clearly too high.
Bass tuning machines: which way to turn
Basses most often have a 4-in-line or 2+2 headstock, and 5-string basses a 4+1 or 3+2 layout. On a single in-line row, every tuner tightens in the same direction; when they are split across both sides, the two sides turn as mirror images.
Heavy strings react slowly and a quarter turn can be enough to change the note by a semitone. Turn in small increments, pluck again, and let the tuner confirm the note is moving the right way.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune a 5-string bass with my phone?
Select the 5-string bass tuning, hold the phone near the amp or the body of the bass and play each string. For the low B, the 12th-fret harmonic gives a steadier reading.
Why does the tuner show a B or a high E on my low E string?
A microphone that is weak in the low end may mostly hear the third harmonic of E, which is a B, or its octave, an E. Tap to lock the E string and move the phone closer: the tuner will look for the correct fundamental.
Can I tune an electric bass without plugging it in?
Yes, by resting the phone against the top of the bass, near the bridge. The acoustic sound is quiet, so work in a quiet room.
Do I need special strings to tune B-E-A-D?
Yes, ideally. A low B on an E string that is too light lacks tension, buzzes and sounds muddy. Get a set made for this tuning, and check that the nut can take the thickest string.
What is the frequency of the bass E string?
41.20 Hz, which is E1. That is one octave below the low E of a guitar, at 82.41 Hz.
Why does my bass go out of tune while I play?
New strings still stretching, very hard picking or a change in temperature are the most common causes. Retune between songs; if the problem persists, check how the strings are secured to the tuning posts.