How to tune a bass guitar

Created by Admin in Music Education 30 Jun 2021

Tuning Your Bass

Before you commence each lesson or practice session you must tune your bass. If your bass is out of tune everything you play will sound incorrect even though you are holding the correct notes. If you want to play along with the recording your bass must be tuned to 'concert pitch'. This is a standard tuning that all musicians tune to so that they can play 'in concert' with each other. It is possible for a bass to be in tune with itself (e.g., you play a scale and it sounds in tune) but out of tune with a piano which would be tuned to concert pitch. Written on the following page is a method of tuning which all bass players must know, i.e., tuning the bass to itself. This tuning method is essential to know because when tuning to concert pitch you may only be given one note (usually the open third string A) so you have to know how to tune the other strings to this note.

Tuning the Bass to Itself

This method involves finding notes of the same pitch on different strings. The diagram that follows outlines the notes used:

Tune the open fourth string to the E note of another instrument, e.g., guitar or keyboard. If you have nothing to tune it to, assume that it is roughly in tune.
Place a finger on the fourth string at the fifth fret. Now play the open A third string. If the bass is to be in tune, then these two notes must have the same pitch (i.e., sound the same). If they do not sound the same, the third string must be adjusted to match the note produced on the fourth string, i.e., it is tuned in relation to the fourth string.
Tune the open second string to the note on the fifth fret of the third string, using the method outlined above.
Tune the open first string to the note on the fifth fret of the second string. To check if your bass is in tune with itself, play a scale (see page The C Major Scale ) or an arpeggio (see Arpeggio Playing ).

Tuning Hints

One of the easiest ways to practice tuning is to actually start with the bass in tune and then detune one string. When you do this, always take the string down in pitch (i.e., loosen it) as it is easier to tune "up" to a given note rather than "down" to it. As an example, detune the second string (D). If you play a riff or scale now, the bass will sound out of tune, even though only one string has been altered (so remember that if your bass is out of tune it may only be one string at fault.)

Following the correct method, you must tune the second string against the D note at the fifth fret of the third string. Play the note loudly, and listen carefully to the sound produced. This will help you retain the correct pitch in your mind when tuning the next string. Now that you have listened carefully to the note that you want, the D string must be tuned to it. Pick the D string, and turn its tuning key at the same time, and you will hear the pitch of the string change (it will become higher as the tuning key tightens the string). It is important to follow this procedure so that you hear the sound of the string at all times, as it tightens. You should also constantly refer back to the correct sound that is required (i.e., the D note on the fifth fret of the third string).