6-string bass tuning (B E A D G C)
Jazz, fusion, progressive and session players who want the full range of the instrument available at once.
A 6-string bass in standard tuning is a 4-string with one string added at each end: a low B below the E and a high C above the G, so B E A D G C. Every interval is a fourth, which keeps all the familiar patterns in place across the whole neck.
It covers nearly four octaves from B0 at 30.9 Hz to a fretted high C three octaves up, enough for chords, melodies and the lowest root notes without ever retuning.
Notes and frequencies
From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). This is the reference every other 6-string bass tuning is measured against.
| String | Note | Frequency (A4 = 440 Hz) | Change from standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | B0 | 30.87 Hz | as standard |
| 5 | E1 | 41.20 Hz | as standard |
| 4 | A1 | 55.00 Hz | as standard |
| 3 | D2 | 73.42 Hz | as standard |
| 2 | G2 | 98.00 Hz | as standard |
| 1 | C3 | 130.81 Hz | as standard |
Tuning to Standard in TuneGlass
- Open Settings and choose 6-string bass.
- Standard tuning is already selected. Play any string: the dial shows the nearest string and how far off it is.
- 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
- Tune the middle four first; they are familiar and stable. Then the high C against the fretted C on the G string (5th fret), and the low B last, with a single clean pluck.
- In TuneGlass choose 6-string bass in Settings: six circles, and the detector's low-range mode for the B.
Questions
What is standard tuning on a 6-string bass?
B E A D G C, low to high: a 4-string's E A D G with a B below and a C above.
Is standard tuning free in TuneGlass on the 6-string bass?
Yes, as on every instrument.
Related tunings
English