Standard (EADG)
| Corda | Note | Scientific | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4ª | Mi1 | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3ª | Lá1 | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2ª | Ré2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1ª | Sol2 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
Four strings tuned in fourths, one octave below the four lowest strings of an acoustic guitar. Afine pelo microfone, sem instalar nada — a página faz a leitura no seu próprio aparelho.
São 3 afinações usadas no Brasil. Escolha a que o repertório pede — trocar de afinação muda o que fica fácil e o que fica impossível na mão.
| Corda | Note | Scientific | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4ª | Mi1 | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3ª | Lá1 | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2ª | Ré2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1ª | Sol2 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
The low B string extends the range downward and is used in gospel and funk.
| Corda | Note | Scientific | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ª | Si0 | B0 | 30.87 Hz |
| 4ª | Mi1 | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3ª | Lá1 | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2ª | Ré2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1ª | Sol2 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
The fourth string is lowered by a whole step.
| Corda | Note | Scientific | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4ª | Ré1 | D1 | 36.71 Hz |
| 3ª | Lá1 | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2ª | Ré2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1ª | Sol2 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
The standard four-string bass uses EADG: E, A, D, and G. From the thickest string to the thinnest, the references are E1 at 41.20 Hz; A1 at 55.00 Hz; D2 at 73.42 Hz; and G2 at 98.00 Hz. The strings follow fourths, like the four lowest guitar strings, but the bass sounds one octave lower. This relationship makes the instrument predictable in your hands, as long as you give each string time to stop oscillating before correcting the note.
Use the online bass tuner with your bass plugged in or with your device microphone near the instrument. Play one string at a time, let the note ring for 2 or 3 seconds, and make small movements at the tuning peg. The tuner depends on the microphone, electrical signal, and ambient noise. The table on this page shows the reference frequencies; here, the focus is what happens during tuning and how to solve problems the tuner display does not explain.
Before you begin, choose a place without a television, fan, or nearby conversation. With an electric bass, use moderate amplifier volume. If you use an audio interface, select the bass input and keep the page open in your browser. With an acoustic bass, place your phone approximately 10 to 30 centimeters from the sound hole or the area that projects the most sound.
If you also play guitar, check the guitar tuner and compare the logic of fourths. Then, an online metronome can help you test whether the tuning stays steady when you play pulses at 60 to 72 BPM, as in a slow pop, country, or gospel ballad bass line.
Place the bass comfortably and keep the device a few centimeters from the instrument’s acoustic output. If you are using an electric bass, connect it to an amplifier at moderate volume or move the phone near the speaker. Close apps that use the microphone and keep the room quiet. The tuner needs to hear a clear note, not a mixture of strings, voice, and cymbals.
Follow this 45 to 60-second sequence:
Start with the lowest string and play near the bridge with a medium attack. Do not strike too hard. An aggressive attack can raise the pitch at first and make you loosen the string more than necessary. Wait for the reading to stabilize, compare it with the note name, and adjust the tuning peg. If you pass the target, lower the pitch slightly and return to the note from below.
After tuning one string, play it again. Neck and bridge tension changes slightly when you alter the other strings. Do a second check in the same order. In a pop, rock, or gospel performance, this quick return prevents the bass from seeming to drop when the first long notes enter.
If the microphone does not identify the note, touch the other strings to mute them. Play closer to the pickup or bridge and move the device away from noise sources. On a five-string bass, leave the lowest string out of the initial check and first confirm the four strings that make up the EADG pattern. Then check the low B string separately.
Do not turn the tuning peg while the display is jumping between two notes. Improve the signal first. Strong noise can make the tuner indicate a harmonic, a neighboring string, or a different note. If the signal remains poor after three attempts, stop for 30 seconds, change the phone’s position, and start again.
To tune without relying only on the display, you can study how to tune by ear. The idea is the same: listen to the relationship between the strings and use the tuner as a reference, not as a replacement for paying attention to the instrument.
A bass goes out of tune because strings, bridge, tuning pegs, and neck respond to tension and temperature. A newly changed string commonly rises and falls in pitch until it settles. A change of environment also matters: moving from a cold room to a hot stage changes the feeling of tension and can change the tuner reading. If the instrument has been in the trunk, wait 10 to 20 minutes before tuning.
Your right-hand attack is another factor. When you pull the string sideways, the pitch rises at first and then returns. This is especially noticeable with strong pizzicato, slap, or pick playing. Practice playing a long note and observe its pitch after the initial instant. Tune to the center of the sustained note, not the peak caused by the attack.
Try a simple test today. Play the A string three times: once softly, once with medium force, and once hard. Observe whether the reading changes during the first second. If the pitch rises noticeably more with the hard attack, reduce your force or compensate through technique. Do not adjust the tuning peg to hide an attack that changes the pitch.
Your left hand can also push the string against the fret. This makes the note sharp, especially when you press hard near the middle of the space between frets. Use only enough pressure for a clean note. In bass chords used in folk or worship arrangements, this difference appears when you hold notes longer.
Avoid storing the instrument against a heater, in direct sun by a window, or in a very hot trunk. Do not leave the bass supported by the bridge or with weight on the neck. When placing it on a stand, make sure it is secure and that the tuning pegs have no lateral pressure. These precautions do not eliminate tuning changes, but they reduce sudden shifts.
When tuning always drops on the same string, look for a pattern. The tuning peg may be loose, the string may be slipping on the post, or the bridge may have a friction point. If the pitch changes when you play in different areas of the neck, also check the intonation. The tuner shows pitch, but it does not correct the setup problem causing it.
To separate technique from a defect, play the open string and then the same note at the 12th fret. Test the E and A strings. If the open note is correct but the 12th-fret note is clearly sharp or flat, the problem may involve intonation, action, or fret wear. In that case, stop turning the tuning peg.
Standard EADG tuning works for much of pop, rock, blues, country, folk, and worship music. It preserves familiar scale shapes and makes it easier to communicate with the guitarist. The strings move in fourths, so the same fingering idea can be shifted to another string with little adaptation.
In standard tuning, use these references for checking: E1 at 41.20 Hz, A1 at 55.00 Hz, D2 at 73.42 Hz, and G2 at 98.00 Hz. Frequency helps identify the note, but the final reading depends on the quality of the captured signal. A room with reflected low frequencies, a distorted amplifier, or two strings vibrating at once can confuse the indicator.
A lower tuning can help when the band needs more weight, when the song is in a low key, or when the arrangement calls for a note unavailable in standard tuning. Lowering the lowest string gives access to additional notes, but changes the resistance under your fingers. The string becomes looser and may oscillate more when you play hard.
If you lower only the E string to D, check the altered string twice. The new tension affects the hand’s response and may require an action or intonation adjustment. If the string becomes too loose, a heavier gauge may respond better, but the change may require professional setup.
Another option is raising all the strings together to match a key or a singer’s preference. In that case, confirm that the strings and instrument can handle the tension. Do not choose a tuning only because the note looks more comfortable on the display. See how it responds to attack, bends, and the rests in the line.
If you change tuning during rehearsal, give the set 10 to 20 seconds to settle and review every string. Altering one string affects the balance of the neck and can move the others slightly. Mark the tuning used for each set list in the case. This prevents starting a folk song in EADG when the next song calls for another setup.
The choice also depends on the arrangement. In a light pop or country groove, standard tuning preserves the clarity of short notes. In a rock or worship chorus with sustained notes, a lower tuning can fill more space, but it requires control so the bass does not blur with the kick drum. Use the chord generator to view the arrangement’s notes and check whether the change really makes your part easier.
When studying a sequence, compare the bass line with the chord progressions. The tuning should serve the harmonic movement and the way your hand reads the neck. If the change only creates a different fingering without improving the sound or execution, staying in standard tuning is usually the safer choice.
A fresh set usually sounds brighter, responds quickly, and maintains clearer definition between notes. It may also feel harder during the first few hours. The string has not yet settled on the tuning post, bridge, and contact points. For that reason, the reading may rise after every pluck even when you have just tuned.
After installing the string, tune to pitch, gently pull it away from the neck at several points, and tune again. Do not overdo it. The goal is to settle the winding, not deform the string. Play simple lines for 5 minutes and check again. Tuning tends to become more predictable as tension distributes itself.
Do not pull a new string hard enough to cause pain or move the instrument. Apply light tension at three or four points along its length, using your thumb and index finger. If the pitch drops significantly afterward, check the wraps on the post and the string’s path across the bridge.
Gauge changes the feel of the hand. Heavier strings offer more resistance and can provide a firm low end, but they require proper setup. Lighter strings make articulation and bends easier, but may become loose when you lower the tuning. The best choice depends on the bass scale length, tuning, and how hard you play.
Old strings lose brightness and can develop worn areas. They may also become irregular along their length, making intonation harder. If open notes tune but fretted notes seem to drift, compare the same note in another position. A large difference may indicate wear, pickup height, a fret issue, or the need for setup.
Make a quick inspection before changing the set. Look for rust, deep fret marks, open winding, and flattened areas near where you play. In a set with many repeated notes, such as pop, rock, or country, this wear appears first on the most frequently used frets.
Do not mix gauges without understanding the effect on the instrument. Replacing only one string with a very different gauge changes the tension balance and can alter the neck’s curvature. If the bass receives a different set from its usual one, allow time to review tuning, action, and intonation before recording or playing live.
If the reading jumps between notes, first mute everything around you. Turn off fans, televisions, and unused speakers. Move the phone away from interference sources and, on an electric bass, check the cable, battery, and instrument volume. A weak or contaminated signal can make the tuner interpret harmonics as the fundamental note.
Use this 3-minute diagnosis:
Play one string at a time and mute the others with both hands. The bass produces substantial low-frequency energy, and sound continues circulating through the room even after you release the string. If the pickups have a switch, test the position that produces the cleanest signal. Do not increase gain until the sound distorts.
Microphone placement changes the result. On an acoustic bass, look for the sound hole or body area that projects sound without excessive vibration. On an electric bass, move the device near the speaker, but do not touch the cone. If you use an audio interface, select the correct input and keep the tuner page open in your browser.
An old string can produce irregular partials, fret noise, and a note that dies quickly. In that situation, the indicator has no stable signal to follow. Clean the strings according to the manufacturer’s instructions, but do not expect cleaning to restore a deformed string. When the problem remains on one string, replacing it is a simple test.
Also check your left-hand position. Lightly touching the string creates a muted sound that can confuse the reading. Play in the center of the correct fret space, using enough pressure to avoid buzzing. If the tuner remains unstable, compare the open note with the same note at a higher fret. The contrast helps separate noise from a mechanical defect.
If the phone is capturing room sound instead of the bass, reduce the distance to 10 centimeters and play a long note. If jumps continue, increase the distance to 20 or 30 centimeters. The best position depends on amplifier volume and the sensitivity of the device microphone.
To explore other practice options, visit the Cantivy tools. You can switch between tuning, pulse, and harmonic study without leaving the browser or losing focus during the session.
After tuning, play all the strings in sequence and check whether any have fallen back. Do the test with the same attack you will use in rehearsal. A string may seem correct when played lightly but show a different reading with a pick or slap. This test better reveals how your hands actually behave.
Create this 2-minute routine before every rehearsal:
Store the bass in a stable place, inside a properly fitted case or gig bag. Avoid leaving it supported for long periods with the neck pressed against a wall. Before leaving for rehearsal, let the instrument adapt to the room for a few minutes. Tune after this adjustment, not immediately after taking it out of a car.
Check the tuning pegs by hand without tightening them with tools. If one turns by itself during playing, there is looseness or friction that deserves attention. When installing new strings, keep the wraps organized on the post and avoid excessive slack. Clean winding reduces slipping and makes future changes easier.
Use your ear together with the tuner. Play octaves, long notes, and short phrases from the set list. In a rock or worship rehearsal, for example, the tuning must remain steady while you alternate short notes and anticipations. In country music, sustained-note lines expose any pitch drop. The musical test completes the technical reading.
If the bass arrives out of tune at every rehearsal, note which string changed, how long the instrument was stored, and what environment it was used in. This record helps a repair technician find the cause. It may be a string at the end of its life, a loose tuning peg, a poorly adjusted bridge, or simply a major temperature change.
Before soundcheck, do a short check and mute strings that are not being used. During the break, do not leave the instrument plugged in and resting anywhere. A simple routine protects the setup and lets you focus on the band, arrangement, and pulse of the music.
Bass tuning becomes more reliable when you combine a clean reading with attention to your touch. The tuner shows the reference, but your hands, the environment, and string condition also affect the result. Because the device microphone affects capture, a stable reading requires a clear signal and an isolated string.
Use standard tuning as your starting point and change it only when the arrangement or range calls for it. After any change, play the instrument briefly and review every string. In a folk or country line, test short notes as well. In a gospel or pop ballad, test sustained notes for 2 or 3 seconds.
When the display oscillates, investigate the signal before turning the tuning peg. Noise, loose strings, a weak battery, cable problems, pickups, and wear may be responsible. If the same string remains unstable after replacement and signal cleanup, have the instrument set up.
Standard tuning is EADG: E on the lowest string, followed by A, D, and G. The references are E1 at 41.20 Hz, A1 at 55.00 Hz, D2 at 73.42 Hz, and G2 at 98.00 Hz. The strings are separated by fourths, which makes it easier to move scale shapes between them. This setup works for much of pop, rock, country, folk, and worship music. The tuner should recognize each note individually with the other strings muted.
Open the page in your browser, allow microphone access, and place the device approximately 10 to 30 centimeters from the bass or speaker. Play one string at a time with a moderate attack and wait for the reading to stop oscillating for 2 or 3 seconds. Adjust the tuning peg in short movements. If the signal fails, reduce noise, mute the other strings, and move the phone closer to the sound source. The result depends on the microphone and environment.
A hard attack displaces the string sideways and temporarily increases its tension. The note begins sharper and then approaches its sustained pitch. Tune to the center of the note using the same type of attack you will use while playing. Reducing force, controlling the right hand, and avoiding vertical pulling also help. Test the same string at three intensities and observe the difference during the first second.
Mute every other string and play closer to the bridge or pickup. Check the bass volume, cable, and battery if applicable. With the microphone, reduce nearby voices, fans, and speakers. Play a long note without touching the string with your left hand. If one string continues to fail, it may be old or deformed. Compare the open string with the same note at the 12th fret.
Yes, as long as the instrument and strings respond well to the change. When you lower a string, it becomes looser, oscillates more, and may lose definition under a hard attack. If you lower all the strings, overall tension changes and a setup may be needed. After changing tuning, review every string and test several areas of the neck. If the string becomes too loose, ask a repair technician about gauge and adjustment.
Yes. The winding still needs to settle around the tuning posts and bridge, so pitch may change after several minutes of playing. Tune, stretch the string carefully at three or four points, play for 5 minutes, and tune again. Repeat the cycle without pulling too hard. Once settled, new strings usually respond with greater stability and brightness.
It can. Wear changes mass distribution and creates less regular vibrations. The string may produce noise, lose sustain, or show partials that confuse the reading. Compare the open string with the same note in another position. If the difference remains, replacing it is an appropriate test. Also check the bridge and tuning peg before blaming only the string.
Store the instrument away from heat, direct sun, and sudden temperature changes. Let the bass adapt to the room for 10 to 20 minutes before tuning. Check all the strings after playing a sequence with your usual attack. Keep the tuning pegs and windings in good condition. If the same string always drops, record the pattern and have the instrument professionally set up.
The four lowest guitar strings and the four bass strings follow the same relationship of fourths, but the bass sounds one octave lower. A guitar usually has six strings and includes a changed interval between some of them. You can therefore use the same note-name references, but do not copy every fingering without considering register. The low E string on bass is referenced at 41.20 Hz, while the low E string on guitar usually sounds one octave higher.
On electric bass, moving the phone near the speaker can help, as long as the volume is moderate and the sound is not distorted. Avoid touching the device to the speaker. If you have an audio interface, the direct input usually provides a cleaner signal. With either method, mute extra strings and reduce noise sources in the room. If the reading still jumps, test the bass without an amplifier and compare the result.
The difference may come from intonation, string height, left-hand pressure, fret wear, or an irregular string. Play the open string and then the 12th fret with the same force and tuner. If the difference remains after more than one attempt, do not correct it with the tuning peg. Note the affected string and take the instrument to a repair technician for evaluation.
Let the note ring for 2 or 3 seconds. The first moment may be sharper because of the attack and the string’s sideways displacement. With a new string or after changing tuning, wait 10 to 20 seconds before the final check. The exact time depends on the instrument, string, attack, and device pickup.
Yes. Start with the four strings E, A, D, and G to reduce microphone confusion, then check the additional low string. In a common five-string tuning, that string is B0, with an approximate reference of 30.87 Hz. Play only one string at a time, mute the others, and use moderate amplifier volume. Very low frequencies may require more distance or a cleaner signal source.
After tuning, set the tempo with the online metronome, build the shapes with the chord generator, and explore the progressions that support Brazilian repertoire.