Bass guitar tuner
A microphone tuner made for bass. It uses a longer analysis window on low notes, so it reads the low E (41 Hz) and even the low B of a 5-string (31 Hz). Includes 4-string, 5-string, Drop D and half step down.
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String notes: 4-string (E A D G)
At A = 440 Hz. The tuner measures each plucked string against these frequencies.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4. | E1 | 41.2 Hz |
| 3. | A1 | 55.0 Hz |
| 2. | D2 | 73.4 Hz |
| 1. | G2 | 98.0 Hz |
How to tune
- Press “Start tuning” and allow the microphone. The sound stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
- Low strings are hard to read because of their overtones. Pluck near the end of the neck, not by the bridge, and let the note ring.
- Going through an amp gives a cleaner signal, but holding your phone near the pickups works acoustically too.
- If the needle jumps by an octave, lock the string (click it) so the tuner only looks for that note.
- When the needle sits in the green middle zone (±3 cents), the string is in tune. Anything within 5 cents sounds in tune to the ear.
More tuners and tunings
Frequently asked questions
What is standard bass tuning?
On a 4-string, low to high: E – A – D – G (E1 41.2 Hz, A1 55 Hz, D2 73.4 Hz, G2 98 Hz). It matches the four lowest guitar strings, an octave lower.
How do I tune a 5-string bass?
Choose 5-string (B E A D G). The low B is 30.9 Hz. If your phone mic struggles, hold it closer to the instrument.
Why won't it pick up my low E?
Most phone mics are weaker below 50 Hz. Pluck a little harder, cut background noise, or lock the string. The tuner can then infer the fundamental from the overtones.
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