Content

• Method 2 of 3: Tuning at intervals
• Method 3 of 3: Tuning with an electronic tuner
• Tips
• Warnings

1 Play the E note on another instrument. First of all, you need to make sure that the other instrument is set up correctly. Some instruments, such as pianos, hold very long in tune and are great for tuning bass.

• The E on the piano is the white key immediately following the row of two black keys. All such keys in different octaves will correspond to E notes.
• You can also use other newly tuned instruments, such as a guitar or trumpet, to tune the bass.
• Play the note E on another instrument and try to focus as much as possible on that sound. E is tuned first.

SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA

Professional guitarist Carlos Alonso Rivera is a versatile guitarist, composer and teacher from San Francisco.He holds a BA in Music from California State University, Chico and an MA in classical guitar from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is well versed in a variety of genres including classical, jazz, rock, metal and blues.

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional guitarist

Tuning a bass guitar is similar to tuning a regular guitar. The bass is tuned in the same way as the lower four strings on a regular guitar: E-A-D-G (E-A-D-G).

2 Tune the thickest bass string. The fourth string corresponds to the notes of E. Play this note and match it with the E note on another instrument. On a detuned bass, the note will sound different. Follow these steps:

• Find the tuning pegs on the bass headstock. Each string has its own peg. Find a tuning peg for the fourth string. It is usually closest to the nut in front of the headstock.
• Turn the appropriate tuning peg to match the pitch of the string to match the notes on the other instrument. Most of the time, out of tune instruments sound lower, so it is likely that the peg will need to be turned counterclockwise.
• If the sound of the control note E coincides with the sound of the open fourth string, then it's time to move on to the next string.

3 Tune the next, third string. The third string is the note A. On a piano, the note A is the white key in front of the rightmost of three black keys in a row. Now play the note A on the piano and memorize the sound, and then play the sound from the third string of the bass guitar. Start setting:

• Turn the appropriate peg. It is usually placed second from the nut in front of the headstock. Turn the peg to change the sound of the string.
• In most cases, out of tune instruments sound lower, so it is likely that the peg will need to be turned counterclockwise to get a higher pitch.
• If you are a beginner, it is easy to over-twist the peg. In this case, it will have to be tuned in the opposite direction. Be patient and match the sound carefully.
• If the sound of the control note A coincides with the sound of the open third string, then it's time to move on to the next string.

4 Tune the next, second string. The second string corresponds to the note D. You need to hear the D note on another instrument. On a piano, a note re corresponds to a white key between two black keys in a row. Play a note D on the piano and memorize the sound:

• Play the second open string. The resulting sound will probably not match the D note on the test instrument.
• Turn the appropriate peg. It is usually located third from the nut in front of the headstock. Tune the string so that the sound matches the D note on the test instrument.

5 Tune the first string of your bass guitar. The first string corresponds to the note G. Play the note G on the test instrument. It corresponds to a white key immediately after the left black key in a row of three black keys. Start the setup:

• Play the first open string. Compare the sound with the reference note. The sound will probably be lower, so turn the peg to get the sound you want.
• Find and turn the appropriate peg. It is usually located last from the nut in front of the headstock. Turn the tuning peg to match the sound of the string with the reference note. The setup is complete.

Method 2 of 3: Tuning at intervals

1. 1 Do not use interval tuning when playing with other musicians. This method allows you to tune the sound of the strings relative to each other, but correctly tuned notes on other instruments may sound higher or lower. Interval tuning is suitable for those who play themselves, or when it is impossible to use other tuning methods.
   • If you are playing in a band and no one has a tuner, then you can tune the bass by intervals, and then tune other instruments for the bass.Instruments tuned in this way will sound in unison.
2. 2 Play the fourth string by holding the fifth fret. The open fourth string corresponds to the notes of E. At the 5th fret is the A note, which corresponds to the open note on the third string. They should sound the same. Follow these steps:
   • Play the fourth string alternately, holding the fifth fret and then the open third string. Memorize the sound of these two notes as accurately as possible.
   • Turn the tuning peg of the third string to tune it to the note on the fifth fret of the fourth string. It is usually placed second from the nut in front of the headstock.
3. 3 Tune the second string. It corresponds to the note D. The third string is tuned to fourth, so you can now tune the second string along it. Play the third string by holding the fifth fret and then play the second string open. They should sound the same. Follow these steps:
   • Take both notes alternately and memorize their sound. Turn the peg so that the second string sounds the same as the third string when clamped at the 5th fret.
   • The second string peg is usually positioned third from the nut in front of the headstock. You need to turn the peg until the second string starts to sound the same as the third, clamped at the fifth fret.
4. 4 Tune the first string. The first string corresponds to the note G. The second string is tuned to the third string, and the first string can be tuned to the second string. Play the second string by holding the 5th fret, and then play the open first string. They should sound the same:
   • Take both notes alternately and memorize their sound. Turn the tuning peg to tune the first string.
   • Usually the peg of the first string is located last from the nut in front of the headstock. You need to turn the peg until the first string sounds the same as the second, clamped at the fifth fret. The setup is complete.

Method 3 of 3: Tuning with an electronic tuner

1. 1 Turn on the tuner. Depending on the model, you will need to press a button, slide a switch, or simply open the device. There are many models on the market, so follow the instructions that came with your device for best results.
   • Desktop Tuners are small devices that can be placed on a flat surface such as a table or music stand. Often they use a quarter-inch jack for input and output, which can be connected to a bass guitar and amplifier.
   • Clip-on tuners very convenient for rehearsals and can also be used during performances. Such a device is attached to the headstock.
2. 2 Set or check the check note. Some simple tuners only support tuning one note at a time, but in more advanced devices any note can be set. This information is always shown on the tuner display.
   • Most modern electronic tuners are equipped with a two-color LED display - red and green. Red indicates a mismatch in the sound, and green indicates that the note is in tune.
   • The tuner may include an auto-tuning feature that helps beginners tune open (not pressed) strings.
3. 3 Tune your guitar to the tuner. Before starting, the initial tuner setup may be required. Then play the strings one at a time and turn the tuning pegs according to the directions for each note.
   • Thanks to the tuner, you do not need to alternately play two notes as in the interval method or memorize the sound and correlate the note with the control instrument.
   • Be careful not to mix up the strings and tuning pegs, otherwise you will have to repeat the entire process.
4. 4 Use online tools if you don't have a tuner. If in a difficult moment a tuner has not refused at hand, then you can always find a free program for tuning bass guitar online using a computer or smartphone. For smartphones, you can also download a dedicated tool tuning app.
   • Some online tuners may be of poor quality.The tuning accuracy also depends on the smartphone and your hearing.

Tips

• Some extended bass guitars may have another thick low B string or a high C first string. Six-string basses have two extra strings. These instruments are tuned in the same way as classic four-string instruments.
• One way to match the sound of notes or tones is to pick up waves or pulsations in the sound, also called dissonances. When the notes are close, you will hear dissonance, and the same notes make a single sound.

Warnings

• Sometimes in the heat of play or due to a manufacturing defect, the strings can break. It's best to always have a spare set of strings with you so that the situation doesn't catch you off guard.
• Bass strings are expensive. It is possible to "weld" the strings periodically to prolong the life of the strings.