Bass Tuner Online: 4-String, 5-String & Drop D
Tune your bass guitar accurately with our free online tuner. Supports Standard 4-String (EADG), 5-String (BEADG), and Drop D. Low frequency optimized.
Lock in the low end with our free Online Bass Tuner. Optimized to detect low frequencies that standard tuners often miss, it works for 4-string, 5-string, and 6-string bass guitars.
Bass Tuner
Tune your bass with precision
Tips for accurate tuning:
- Play one string at a time, let it ring clearly
- Tune in a quiet environment for best results
- The needle should be centered (green) when in tune
- Flat (♭) means too low, sharp (♯) means too high
Standard 4-String Tuning (EADG)
The standard tuning for a 4-string bass is exactly one octave lower than the bottom four strings of a guitar.
| String | Note | Frequency | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (Thickest) | E1 | 41.20 Hz | Top / Closest to face |
| 3 | A1 | 55.00 Hz | - |
| 2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz | - |
| 1 (Thinnest) | G2 | 98.00 Hz | Bottom / Closest to floor |
5-String Tuning (BEADG)
5-string basses add a lower "B" string for extended range.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 5 (Thickest) | B0 | 30.87 Hz |
| 4 | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| ... | ... | ... |
Warning
Low B Warning: The frequency of a low B (30 Hz) is very difficult for laptop or phone speakers to reproduce. Use headphones to hear the reference tone clearly, or rely on the visual needle for tuning.
Drop D Tuning
Popular in rock and metal, Drop D simply lowers the E string down one whole step to a D.
- E $\rightarrow$ D (36.71 Hz)
- A (Unchanged)
- D (Unchanged)
- G (Unchanged)
Tips for Tuning Bass
1. Tune with Harmonics
Because bass frequencies are so low, tuners sometimes struggle to lock onto the fundamental note.
- Try this: Play the 12th fret harmonic. Touch the string lightly directly over the 12th fret wire (don't press down) and pluck. This produces a pure tone one octave higher, which is much easier for microphones to detect.
2. Pluck Gently
Bass strings are large and flop around when hit hard.
- The Attack: When you pluck hard, the pitch goes sharp initially and then settles flat.
- The Fix: Pluck gently with your thumb to get a steady, accurate reading.
3. Use the Bridge Pickup
If you have multiple pickups, switch to the Bridge Pickup and turn your Tone Knob all the way up. This adds treble definition to the sound, giving the tuner a clearer signal to latch onto.
Common Questions
Why does the needle jump around?
Low frequencies have long waveforms. Background noise (like an AC unit rumble) can interfere. Try muting all other strings with your hand to ensure only the target string is vibrating.
New strings won't stay in tune?
Bass strings are thick and take time to stretch. Manually stretch them by pulling them away from the fretboard, retune, and repeat until stable. This process is crucial for bass.
Can I tune a 6-string bass?
Yes! A 6-string bass adds a high C string. Use the "Chromatic" mode if the specific preset isn't shown.
- Low B (30 Hz)
- E (41 Hz)
- A (55 Hz)
- D (73 Hz)
- G (98 Hz)
- High C (130.81 Hz)
Related Tools
- Subwoofer Test – Test if your speakers can handle these low frequencies.
- Metronome – Practice your groove.
- Guitar Tuner – For your bandmates.