Online Double Bass Tuner
The double bass goes down to E1 at 41.20 Hz, or even lower with a fifth string or an extension. The tuner is built for these low notes; here is how to get the most out of it.
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 double bass, step by step
- Choose the tuning: orchestral, solo, 5-string or low C extension.
- Place your phone right next to the instrument, for example on a music stand at bridge height, microphone facing the top.
- Tune the G string first (G2, 98.00 Hz), the easiest to pick up, then D (D2, 73.42 Hz).
- Move on to A (A1, 55.00 Hz) and E (E1, 41.20 Hz). Lock the string to avoid any octave confusion.
- Turn the machine heads in small steps: their gearing allows fine adjustment, but the string responds with a slight delay.
- If a low string is still hard to read, use harmonics (see below) or tune it by ear with the drone.
- Go around all the strings once more and check that the bridge is still upright.
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 “Orchestral (E A D G)”
| String | Note (A4 = 440) | Solfège (La3 = 440) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯1 | Fa♯0 | 46.25 |
| 2 | B1 | Si0 | 61.74 |
| 3 | E2 | Mi1 | 82.41 |
| 4 | A2 | La1 | 110.00 |
Strings in physical order, from the lowest in playing position. Frequencies calculated at A = 440 Hz in equal temperament. Tune to “Solo (a whole step up)”
| 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 | C1 | Do0 | 32.70 |
| 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 “C extension”
Orchestral tuning and solo tuning
Orchestral tuning is in fourths: E1, A1, D2, G2. It is also the standard tuning for upright bass in jazz.
Solo tuning raises every string by a whole step: F♯1 (46.25 Hz), B1 (61.74 Hz), E2 (82.41 Hz) and A2 (110.00 Hz). It requires thinner “solo” strings; raising orchestral strings a whole step puts them under excessive tension. The app's anti-breakage alert warns you if a string goes well above its target note, but the right set of strings is still essential.
5-string double bass and low C extension
A five-string double bass usually adds a low B (B0, 30.87 Hz) below the E. Other players prefer a low C string. The extension bass, common in orchestras, lengthens the E string past the nut down to C (C1, 32.70 Hz): the open string is then tuned to that C.
The app's analysis stays reliable down to 30.87 Hz. At these frequencies, the real limit is the microphone: phone mics often pick up little below 80 to 100 Hz. The fundamental is sometimes almost absent from the signal, and the overtones are what make a reading possible.
Tuning with harmonics
Harmonics are the bassist's classic solution. Lightly touching the string at its midpoint gives you the octave: E1 becomes E2 at 82.41 Hz, much easier to pick up. The app recognizes this on the double bass and assigns the harmonic to the correct string.
The harmonic at one third of the string gives the fifth above the octave. On strings tuned in fourths, the harmonic at one quarter of a string (two octaves up) sounds in unison with the harmonic at one third of the next higher string: this is the traditional way to tune by ear, listening for the beats to disappear. Note that these unisons rely on pure fifths and fourths, slightly different from equal temperament (about 2 cents).
Accuracy, bow and pizzicato
In pizzicato, the note is very loud at the attack and then decays quickly; the tuner ignores the attack and reads the stable part. With the bow, the sustained sound gives the measurement more time. The stability indicator tells you when you can trust the number.
With a phone microphone, real-world accuracy is about ±2 to 3 cents on the G and D strings, and can be worse on the lowest strings in a noisy room. In an orchestra, set A to 442 Hz if that is the ensemble's reference pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the frequency of the double bass low E?
E1 vibrates at 41.20 Hz with the reference A set to 440 Hz. A1 is 55.00 Hz, D2 is 73.42 Hz and G2 is 98.00 Hz.
My phone doesn't detect the E string. What can I do?
Move the phone closer to the bridge, play the octave harmonic at the middle of the string, or tune the E by ear from the A. Below 80 Hz, the phone microphone is often the limiting factor.
Can I switch to solo tuning with orchestral strings?
It is not recommended: raising every string a whole step greatly increases the tension. Use solo strings designed for that tuning.
How do I tune a double bass with a C extension?
Choose the low C extension tuning: the lowest string targets C1 at 32.70 Hz. To make reading easier, also check the octave harmonic, C2 at 65.41 Hz.
What tuning order do you recommend?
From G down to E, starting with the string the microphone picks up best. Then go around once more, since the string tensions affect each other.
Can I use the tuner at rehearsal without a network?
Yes, it works offline once opened and can be installed like an app, with no account and no ads.