Bass Drop D tuning (D A D G)
Rock and metal bassists playing alongside drop-tuned guitars.
D1A1D2G2
Drop D on bass lowers the E string a whole step to D, the same move as on guitar. It is the natural companion when the guitarists are in Drop D: your low D matches theirs an octave down.
The D at 36.7 Hz is low enough that a bass's E string handles it with only a little slack, so no string change is needed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | D1 | 36.71 Hz | −2 semitones from E1 |
| 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 4: lower E1 down a whole step to D1.
The other 3 strings stay in standard.
Tuning to Drop D in TuneGlass
- Open Settings and choose 4-string bass.
- Tap any string circle to open the tuning editor and choose Drop D from the presets, or spin the wheel of the thickest string to D. 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
- Only the E string moves. Tune it against the open D string an octave up until the two stop beating.
- A D-tuner (a lever on the tuning machine) flips between E and D in a second if you switch a lot.
Questions
How do you tune a bass to Drop D?
Lower the E string (the thickest) by a whole step to D. A D G stay as they are.
Is Drop D free in TuneGlass?
Yes. The thickest string can always be retuned in the free tier, on bass as on guitar.
Related tunings
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