How to Tune a Bass Guitar

Updated October 5, 2026

Standard bass tuning

A 4-string bass is tuned E A D G: E1 (41.20 Hz), A1 (55.00 Hz), D2 (73.42 Hz) and G2 (98.00 Hz). That is one octave below the four lowest guitar strings. A 5-string bass adds a low B (B0, 30.87 Hz), and a 6-string also adds a high C.

Tuning with a tuner

1. Open the bass tuner and allow the microphone.
2. Pluck a string firmly and wait a moment, because low notes take longer to settle.
3. Tighten the tuning machine if the needle is on the left (flat). Loosen it if the needle is on the right (sharp).
4. Tune all strings, then check them again.

The harmonic trick for low strings

Built-in phone and laptop microphones can hardly pick up 41 Hz. Touch the string lightly over the 12th fret wire and pluck it. This harmonic sounds an octave higher, so it is much easier for the tuner to read. In Manual mode the tuner ignores the octave difference.

Tuning by ear: the 5th-fret method

Every bass string is a perfect fourth (five frets) above the one below it, so the rule is always the same:

1. Tune the E string to a reference E.
2. Press the E string at the 5th fret (A) and tune the open A string to match.
3. Press the A string at the 5th fret (D) and tune the open D string.
4. Press the D string at the 5th fret (G) and tune the open G string.

Tuning by ear: harmonics

The harmonic at the 5th fret of one string matches the harmonic at the 7th fret of the next string. Harmonics ring for a long time and make beats easy to hear, so this method works well on a bass.

Drop and extended tunings

For drop D, lower only the E string to D. The 5-string and 6-string bass tuners cover basses with extra strings.

Frequently asked questions

What notes is a bass tuned to?

E1, A1, D2 and G2 on a standard 4-string bass, one octave below the four lowest strings of a guitar.

Why can’t my tuner read the low E string?

Small microphones have trouble with notes below about 50 Hz. Play the 12th-fret harmonic instead, or connect the bass to an audio interface.

Can I tune a bass to a guitar?

Yes. Each bass string is the same note as the matching guitar string (E A D G), one octave lower.