Free Online Bass Guitar Tuner
Pluck each bass string into your microphone and the tuner instantly shows which string is closest, the exact Hz, and whether you are sharp or flat.
Click Start Tuner and pluck a string…
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How to Tune Your Bass Guitar
- Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access.
- Pluck one string at a time and mute the others.
- The highlighted card shows the closest string. The cents meter shows how sharp or flat you are.
- Turn the tuning peg slowly. Tune up to pitch from below rather than down.
- When the meter centers on green (within ±5 cents), the string is in tune. Repeat for all strings.
Standard Bass Guitar Tuning Reference (EADG)
Standard 4-string bass tuning is EADG — the same note names as the lowest four strings of a guitar, but one octave lower. Each string's target frequency is listed below.
| String | Note | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (thickest) | E1 | 41.20 Hz | Low E — deepest fundamental, subwoofer range |
| 3 | A1 | 55.00 Hz | A string — solid low-mid anchor |
| 2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz | D string — common root for many progressions |
| 1 (thinnest) | G2 | 98.00 Hz | G string — upper range, melodic lines |
Reference pitch: A4 = 440 Hz (concert pitch standard)
Popular Alternate Bass Tunings
Alternate tunings give your bass a heavier tone or lower range without buying a new instrument. Tune to standard EADG first, then adjust the strings shown below. Heavy tunings (Drop C and lower) may require thicker strings (50–110 gauge or heavier) to maintain proper tension.
Drop D
Rock, metal, easy power chords🎵 Killing in the Name — RATM · Everlong — Foo Fighters
Half-Step Down (Eb)
Blues, soul, easier bends🎵 What's Going On — Marvin Gaye · SRV catalog
Full Step Down (DGCF)
Hard rock, heavy tones🎵 Aerials — System of a Down · B.Y.O.B. — System of a Down
Drop C
Metal, detuned riffs🎵 Before I Forget — Slipknot · Pulse of the Maggots — Slipknot
Tips for Accurate Bass Tuning
Tune up from below
Always approach the target pitch by tuning up. A string tuned down tends to slip flat faster because string tension is not fully loaded.
Pluck clean single notes
Mute the other three strings while tuning. On bass, open string sympathetic resonance is strong and can confuse the pitch detector.
Use a quiet environment
Low-frequency bass notes are harder to isolate in a noisy room. Move away from speakers and close doors for the cleanest mic signal.
Stretch new strings
New bass strings go sharp as they stretch. After tuning up, gently pull each string away from the body, then retune. Repeat twice for stability.
Check intonation too
If your bass is in tune open but sounds off at the 12th fret, the bridge saddle needs adjusting. Tuning alone won't fix intonation.
Tune at playing temperature
Metal strings expand and contract with temperature. Tune in the same room where you will play — a cold basement vs. a warm stage can shift pitch noticeably.
Tuning an Active vs Passive Bass
Standard EADG tuning applies to both active and passive basses — the target frequencies are identical. The difference lies in how clearly the microphone picks up the note.
Active Bass
- Active electronics boost output — place the bass a little further from your mic to avoid clipping.
- Roll your tone controls to flat (neutral) before tuning to get the cleanest fundamental.
- If the battery is low, the signal may wobble — replace it before a session.
- Play near the bridge pickup for the brightest fundamental, easiest for the tuner to lock onto.
Passive Bass
- Passive output is lower — hold the instrument closer to your device microphone or pluck harder.
- Use the bridge pickup for a stronger, clearer signal.
- Turn tone controls fully open (treble up) for the richest harmonic content.
- Acoustic resonance from hollow or semi-hollow basses helps projection — no special placement needed.
Bass Guitar Tuner FAQ
Standard bass tuning is E1, A1, D2, G2 from the lowest string to the highest. These are the same note names as the lowest 4 strings of a standard guitar but tuned one octave lower.
This page is optimized for 4-string EADG bass. For 5-string (adds B0 below the E) or 6-string basses, use the chromatic tuner page which covers the full note range including the low B0 at 30.87 Hz.
Bass strings stretch as they settle, especially new strings. Tune each string, then repeat the process once or twice to allow the strings to stabilize. Gently pulling each string away from the body also speeds up the stretch.
Yes. The tuner listens to the acoustic sound captured by your microphone. For the cleanest result, play near the pickup area and keep background noise low. Active basses may need to be held a little further from the mic due to higher output.
Drop D bass tuning lowers string 4 from E1 (41.20 Hz) to D1 (36.71 Hz). Strings A1, D2, G2 remain at standard pitch. It gives a heavier low end and is widely used in rock and metal.
Lower all 4 strings by one semitone: E1 → Eb1 (38.89 Hz), A1 → Ab1 (51.91 Hz), D2 → Db2 (69.30 Hz), G2 → Gb2 (92.50 Hz). Use the chromatic tuner page and target each flat note individually.
Drop D (D1 A1 D2 G2) is the most common. For heavier styles, Drop C (C1 G1 C2 F2) or full-step-down (D1 G1 C2 F2) are popular choices. These benefit from heavier string gauge (50–110 or thicker) to maintain tension.
Once the page loads, the tuner runs entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. No internet connection is needed and no audio is ever uploaded or stored — 100% private.
After tuning open strings, play the harmonic at the 12th fret on each string, then fret the same note. If the fretted note is sharp, move the saddle toward the neck (lengthen the string). If flat, move it toward the bridge (shorten). Repeat until open and fretted pitches match.
The most common causes are poor intonation (saddle position), worn frets, a warped neck, or tuning with the wrong octave. Make sure the tuner registers E1 (~41 Hz) for string 4, not E2 (~82 Hz). Old strings also lose their ability to intonate accurately and should be replaced.
Ready to Tune Your Bass?
Standard EADG in seconds — pluck a string, see the note, lock in your pitch.
Open Bass Tuner