What Hz is each bass string in standard tuning?

Standard 4-string EADG bass tuning at A440: String 4 (low E) = 41.20 Hz, String 3 (A) = 55.00 Hz, String 2 (D) = 73.42 Hz, String 1 (G) = 98.00 Hz. For 5-string BEADG, add String 5 (low B) = 30.87 Hz. These are sub-bass frequencies that sit below most guitar ranges.

How do I tune a bass guitar with a chromatic tuner?

Open the BeatKey Chromatic Tuner at notes.beatkey.app/tuner in your browser. Allow microphone access. Pluck one string at a time close to the bridge for a clean fundamental tone. The tuner shows the note name, Hz value, and cents deviation. Tune to E1, A1, D2, G2 for standard 4-string tuning. Sub-bass frequencies (below 50 Hz) may need a quiet environment for accurate detection.

Bass Guitar Tuning Guide

Q: What is standard bass guitar tuning?

Standard bass guitar tuning is EADG from the lowest (thickest) string to the highest (thinnest) string. The exact frequencies at A440 are: E1 = 41.20 Hz, A1 = 55.00 Hz, D2 = 73.42 Hz, G2 = 98.00 Hz. 5-string basses add a low B string at B0 = 30.87 Hz. These sub-bass frequencies are why bass instruments feel as much as they sound in live music.

Q: What is Drop D bass tuning?

Drop D bass tuning lowers the low E string from E1 (41.20 Hz) to D1 (36.71 Hz). The remaining strings stay at A1, D2, G2. Drop D lets you play D root notes on one string without moving your hand position. Common in rock, metal, and grunge. On 5-string basses, Drop D gives you D1, B0, A1, D2, G2 (two D strings at different octaves).

Standard 4-string EADG and 5-string BEADG tuning with exact Hz frequencies per string. Plus Drop D, Drop C, Eb Standard, D Standard, and Open D alternate tunings.

EADG

Standard 4-string tuning

30.87 Hz

Low B on 5-string bass

Alternate tunings covered

A440

International standard pitch

Standard 4-String Bass Tuning (EADG)

Standard bass tuning is EADG from the lowest (thickest) string to the highest (thinnest). Bass strings sit one octave below the equivalent guitar strings. E1 at 41.20 Hz is in the sub-bass range, below most guitar frequencies and right in the zone that gives a mix its weight and low-end power.

String	Note	Exact Hz	MIDI	Description
4	E1	41.20 Hz	28	Sub-bass foundation. The lowest note on most bass lines.
3	A1	55.00 Hz	33	Deep bass range. Root notes for A, D, and G chord bass lines.
2	D2	73.42 Hz	38	Mid-bass. Upper bass melodies and fills.
1	G2	98.00 Hz	43	Highest standard bass string. Melodies and upper chord tones.

Sub-bass note: Bass guitar strings sit one full octave below the equivalent guitar strings. Guitar low E is E2 at 82.41 Hz. Bass low E is E1 at 41.20 Hz, exactly half that frequency. This is why bass provides the foundation that guitar cannot. In a mix, bass frequencies below 80 Hz are often felt through subwoofers as much as they are heard.

Free Bass Chromatic Tuner

Tune your bass in any browser. No app download, no account. Works on iPhone, Android, and desktop. Shows Hz value and cents deviation for each string.

Open Chromatic Tuner

Tip: Bass sub-frequencies (E1 at 41 Hz) can be tricky to detect in noisy environments. Tune in a quiet room and pluck close to the bridge for a clean fundamental tone.

How to Tune a Bass Guitar

Step 1: Open the Tuner

Go to notes.beatkey.app/tuner in any browser. Click "Start Tuner" and allow microphone access. No installation needed.

Step 2: Start with the Low E

Always tune from the lowest string to the highest. Pluck the E string firmly near the bridge. The tuner should detect E1 at 41.20 Hz.

Step 3: Read the Cents Meter

Green = in tune (0-5 cents off). Yellow = close (5-15 cents). Orange/red = tune more. Flat means too low, sharp means too high.

Step 4: Tune A, D, G

Work up from E to A (55 Hz), D (73.42 Hz), and G (98 Hz). Retune after each string, as tightening one can affect others.

Step 5: Play a Final Check

Play a slow chromatic run or a simple riff. Re-check each string. New strings stretch and may need a second round of tuning.

Sub-Bass Tip

Bass frequencies below 50 Hz are harder for microphones to detect cleanly. Use a quiet room and let the note sustain fully before reading the meter.

5-String Bass Tuning (BEADG)

5-string basses add a low B string below the standard E, extending the range down to B0 at 30.87 Hz. This is sub-sub-bass territory, below the range most audio equipment can reproduce cleanly. 5-string basses are standard in gospel, R&B, jazz fusion, and metal where extended low-end range is essential.

String	Note	Exact Hz	MIDI	Description
5	B0	30.87 Hz	23	Extended sub-bass. Lower than any guitar string.
4	E1	41.20 Hz	28	Standard bass low E.
3	A1	55.00 Hz	33	Standard bass A string.
2	D2	73.42 Hz	38	Standard bass D string.
1	G2	98.00 Hz	43	Standard bass G string.

Low B string (amber) is the added 5th string. B0 at 30.87 Hz is below the range of many speakers and requires a subwoofer to reproduce fully.

Alternate Bass Tunings

Drop D DADG

Rock, Metal, Grunge

String	Note	Hz
4	D1	36.71 Hz
3	A1	55.00 Hz
2	D2	73.42 Hz
1	G2	98.00 Hz

Tip: Play D root notes without shifting position. D power chord on strings 4-3-2 with one finger.

Half Step Down (Eb) Eb Ab Db Gb

Blues, Classic Rock, R&B

String	Note	Hz
4	Eb1	38.89 Hz
3	Ab1	51.91 Hz
2	Db2	69.30 Hz
1	Gb2	92.50 Hz

Tip: Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan played this. Slightly darker, warmer tone. Easier string bends.

Drop C CADG

Metal, Djent, Nu-Metal

String	Note	Hz
4	C1	32.70 Hz
3	A1	55.00 Hz
2	D2	73.42 Hz
1	G2	98.00 Hz

Tip: Even heavier than Drop D. C1 at 32.7 Hz is the same note as middle C two octaves down. Requires heavier strings.

D Standard DGCF

Metal, Doom, Stoner Rock

String	Note	Hz
4	D1	36.71 Hz
3	G1	49.00 Hz
2	C2	65.41 Hz
1	F2	87.31 Hz

Tip: Full step down from standard. Heavier, darker sound. Used in doom and stoner rock. Match guitarist in D Standard.

Open D DADF#

Blues, Folk, Slide

String	Note	Hz
4	D1	36.71 Hz
3	A1	55.00 Hz
2	D2	73.42 Hz
1	F#2	92.50 Hz

Tip: Strum all strings for a D major chord. Strong foundation for slide bass playing and blues grooves.

Changed strings highlighted in amber. All Hz values based on A440 international standard pitch.

Bass Frequencies for Producers

Understanding bass frequencies is essential for mixing. The bass occupies the sub-bass (20-80 Hz) and bass (80-250 Hz) frequency ranges, which are the same ranges that carry the most energy in modern music production.

Frequency Range	Bass Notes	Character	Mix Notes
20-40 Hz	E0-D1 (5-string)	Sub rumble, felt not heard	Cut below 30 Hz to remove inaudible content. Only 5-string B at 30.87 Hz here.
40-80 Hz	E1-B1 (4-string range)	Sub-bass body, weight	E1 at 41 Hz is the foundation. Boost around 60 Hz for chest-thumping low end. Sidechain to kick here.
80-160 Hz	E2-E3 range	Bass warmth and fullness	The core of bass tone. Muddy mixes often have too much 100-150 Hz. Cut narrow for tightness.
160-300 Hz	E3 harmonics	Upper harmonics, warmth	Harmonics that make bass audible on small speakers. Boost 200-250 Hz if bass disappears on phones.
600-2000 Hz	Upper harmonics, attack	Pick/pluck attack, string noise	The click of a pick or pluck. Boost 800 Hz-1 kHz to cut through in busy mixes. Cut if too clicky.

Tune to the Key

Detect the track key with BeatKey first. Then tune your bass root notes to match. An out-of-tune bass against a sample in Dm will ruin the whole mix regardless of tone.

808 vs Live Bass

808s and live bass occupy the same frequency range. If you use both, EQ them to live in different zones: sub (808) vs mid-bass (live). Use notes.beatkey.app to find the exact Hz of each 808 note.

Check in Mono

Bass frequencies below 100 Hz are often mixed to mono in mastered tracks. Always check your bass in mono. Phase cancellation at low frequencies is a common problem when stereo widening is applied to bass.

Bass Production Workflow with BeatKey Tools

Detect the Key

Upload your sample or track to BeatKey. Get BPM, key, and Camelot code in seconds. This tells you what notes your bass lines should be built around.

Tune Your Bass

Use the Chromatic Tuner to tune your bass to standard EADG. Check the Hz values above against each string. For alternate tunings (Drop D, Eb Standard), use this guide as your reference.

Find the Root Notes

Use the Note Frequency Calculator to find the exact Hz of the root note in your key. For 808s, use the 808 Tuning Guide to tune your 808 sample to match your bass.

Bass vs Other Instruments - Frequency Ranges

Instrument	Lowest Note	Lowest Hz	Highest Note	Highest Hz
4-String Bass	E1	41.20 Hz	G3	~196 Hz
5-String Bass	B0	30.87 Hz	G3	~196 Hz
Guitar (6-string)	E2	82.41 Hz	E6	~1319 Hz
Piano (88 keys)	A0	27.50 Hz	C8	4186 Hz
Kick Drum (fundamental)	50 Hz	50 Hz	100 Hz	100 Hz
808 Sub Bass	C1	32.70 Hz	B2	123 Hz

Frequently Asked Questions

What is standard bass guitar tuning?

Standard bass guitar tuning is EADG (lowest to highest): E1 at 41.20 Hz, A1 at 55.00 Hz, D2 at 73.42 Hz, G2 at 98.00 Hz. 5-string basses add a low B string at B0 = 30.87 Hz below the E string. All frequencies based on A440 international pitch standard.

What Hz is each bass string?

4-string EADG: Low E = 41.20 Hz, A = 55.00 Hz, D = 73.42 Hz, G = 98.00 Hz. 5-string adds Low B = 30.87 Hz. Bass strings are exactly one octave below the equivalent guitar strings (guitar low E is 82.41 Hz, exactly double the bass low E at 41.20 Hz).

What is Drop D bass tuning?

Drop D bass tuning lowers the E string from E1 (41.20 Hz) to D1 (36.71 Hz). The other strings stay at A1, D2, G2. Drop D lets you play D power chord shapes with one finger across the lower strings. Common in rock, metal, and grunge. D1 at 36.71 Hz is very deep sub-bass territory.

How do I tune a bass without a tuner?

Relative tuning: once you have the E string in tune (to a reference pitch), you can tune the rest by ear. The 5th fret of E string = A, 5th fret of A string = D, 5th fret of D string = G. But for studio recording, always use a chromatic tuner for accuracy. Even a few cents off will clash with other instruments that are in tune electronically.

Related Instrument Tuning Guides

Guitar Tuning Guide

Standard EADGBE tuning with Hz reference, Drop D, Open G, DADGAD, and 5 more alternate tunings.

Ukulele Tuning Guide

Standard GCEA tuning with Hz reference, Low G tuning, Baritone DGBE, D tuning ADF#B, and more.

808 Tuning Guide

How to tune an 808 bass drum to the key of your track. Hz reference for C1-B2 with DAW tuning instructions.

BeatKey Tools Suite

BeatKey - BPM + Key Detector Chord Finder Delay Calculator Scale Finder Note Frequency Calculator Chromatic Tuner