Tuning The Bass to Itself
The most common and useful of these is the latter; tuning the bass to itself. This method involves finding notes of the same pitch on different strings. The diagram outlines the notes used:
The method of tuning is as follows:
1. Tune the open 4th string to either:
(a) The open 4th string of another bass.
(b) A guitar.
(c) A piano.
On the guitar, the lowest strings correspond to the 4 strings of the bass, (i.e., EADG), but are an octave higher.
On the piano, the notes equivalent to the open four strings are indicated on the diagram.
2. Place a finger on the 4th string at the 5th fret. Now play the open A 3rd 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 3rd string must be adjusted to match the note produced on the 4th string, i.e., it is tuned in relation to the 4th string.
3. Tune the open 2nd string to the note on the 5th fret of the 3rd string, using the method outlined above.
4. Tune the open 1st string to the note on the 5th fret of the second string.
