Click Start and allow microphone access. Pluck one bass string at a time — the tuner detects the pitch in real time and shows whether you need to tune up (flat) or tune down (sharp). When the needle centers and the indicator turns green, that string is in tune. You can tap any string peg on the headstock image to lock onto a specific string.

Standard bass guitar tuning is EADG — from the thickest string to the thinnest: E1 at 41.20 Hz, A1 at 55.00 Hz, D2 at 73.42 Hz, and G2 at 98.00 Hz. This is the universal tuning for 4-string electric and acoustic bass guitar and is the reference for nearly all bass tabs, lessons, and recordings. Bass strings are tuned the same letter names as the lowest four guitar strings, but one octave lower.

A 5-string bass adds a low B string below the standard EADG strings, giving the tuning B-E-A-D-G (BEADG). The low B0 string vibrates at 30.87 Hz, extending the bass range down by a perfect fourth. Five-string basses are common in metal, jazz, funk, and modern worship music where lower notes are needed without retuning. Use our dedicated 5-string bass tuner for pre-set BEADG tuning.

Bass Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G) lowers only the lowest E string by one whole step, from E1 down to D1 at 36.71 Hz. This mirrors the Drop D tuning used on guitar. Drop D bass is widely used in metal, grunge, and rock — it allows the bass to follow Drop D guitar power chords and adds a deeper, more aggressive low end. Use our bass Drop D tuner page for a pre-set tuner.

To tune by ear, start by getting the low E string to a reference pitch using a tuner app, piano, or pitch pipe. Then fret the 5th fret of the E string — this produces A, which should match your open A string. Continue: 5th fret of A = D, and 5th fret of D = G. Each fretted note should sound identical to the next open string. This method works for 4-string standard tuning and allows you to tune relative to yourself if no external reference is available.

Yes — this tuner detects any pitch your microphone picks up. For 5-string bass, use the 5-string tuner page which pre-sets to BEADG. For 6-string bass (B-E-A-D-G-C), switch to the chromatic tuner mode using the toggle at the top, which detects any note. The chromatic mode works for any number of strings and any tuning.

Common causes of bass tuning instability include: new strings that haven't stretched and settled yet, temperature and humidity changes causing neck movement, worn or cheap tuning machines, a poorly cut or dry nut, and heavy playing style. Bass strings are thicker than guitar strings and can take longer to settle after a change. Installing quality tuning machines and lubricating the nut will significantly improve tuning stability.

Tune your bass every time you play. Bass strings are under significant tension and will drift in pitch from temperature changes, humidity, and playing. New strings should be stretched manually and retuned several times over 24–48 hours before they fully stabilize. Round-wound strings tend to lose tune faster than flat-wound strings as they wear.

A bass-specific tuner is optimized for the lower frequency range of bass strings — particularly the low E1 at 41.20 Hz and especially the 5-string B0 at 30.87 Hz. Generic guitar tuners may struggle to accurately detect these very low frequencies. This online bass tuner uses pitch detection tuned to the bass frequency range. The chromatic tuner mode works across the full instrument range.

Yes — an upright (double) bass uses the same standard EADG tuning as an electric bass, so this tuner works for upright bass too. Upright bass strings are tuned E1, A1, D2, and G2 — the same pitches as electric bass. The tuner detects acoustic sound through your device microphone. For best results, tune in a quiet environment and position your device near the instrument.