5-string bass Drop A tuning (A E A D G)
Bassists in Drop A bands on 7-string guitars: Periphery, Whitechapel and the lower reaches of modern metal.
A0E1A1D2G2
Drop A on a 5-string lowers the B string a whole step to A, leaving the other four in standard: A E A D G. The low A at 27.5 Hz is the bottom A on a piano, and it matches guitars in Drop A an octave down.
This is the deepest note in common use on any bass, and it asks a lot of the string, the amp and the tuner.
Notes and frequencies
From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). Changed strings are highlighted.
| String | Note | Frequency (A4 = 440 Hz) | Change from standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | A0 | 27.50 Hz | −2 semitones from B0 |
| 4 | E1 | 41.20 Hz | as standard |
| 3 | A1 | 55.00 Hz | as standard |
| 2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz | as standard |
| 1 | G2 | 98.00 Hz | as standard |
From standard tuning
- String 5: lower B0 down a whole step to A0.
The other 4 strings stay in standard.
Tuning to Drop A in TuneGlass
- Open Settings and choose 5-string bass.
- Tap any string circle to open the tuning editor and choose Drop A from the presets, or spin the wheel of the thickest string to A. Both are free.
- Play one string at a time. The needle turns green and the scale fills when the string is in tune. Hold a string circle to hear its reference note.
Tips
- A .135 or heavier B string on a 35-inch scale keeps the A from flapping. On a 34-inch scale it is playable but soft.
- At 27.5 Hz the fundamental is near the floor of what a phone microphone hears. Pluck once, moderately, over the neck, and let it ring for a full second before reading. TuneGlass extends its range to 28 Hz in bass mode, so this is right at the edge.
Questions
What is Drop A on a 5-string bass?
A E A D G: standard B E A D G with the B string lowered a whole step.
Is Drop A free in TuneGlass?
Yes. Retuning the thickest string is free on every instrument.
Related tunings
English