How to Tune a Bass Guitar by Ear

An bass guitar that is out of tune sounds bad no matter who is playing it. Tuning a bass guitar by ear is one of the most important skills a bassist needs to learn. Electronic tuning devices are useful but you never know when the batteries might go out, so know how to tune by ear just in case.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tuning key

1. Learn the sound of when the guitar is in and out of tune. When a bass is out of tune the frequencies of the notes clash. This causes a slight wha wha wha sound. When the bass is in tune you do not hear the wha sound.

2. Loosen the string that is out of tune. Make a string that is in tune and one that is out of tune vibrate by playing a note on the 5th fret, such as an E. Listen for the wha sound.

3. Tighten the string slowly with a tuning key while playing the base note and the out of tune string. The wha sound slows down as the string gets closer to the tuned pitch of the base note.

4. Continue to tighten the string until you no longer hear the wha sound. When the wha sound disappears, the frequencies of the base note and the string you are tuning are matched up.

5. Repeat until all of the strings are in tune with each other.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice tuning by purposely detuning the guitar. Detune the guitar by loosening some strings.
• Double check the guitar's sound with an electronic tuner to see if your have tuned the guitar properly. It takes practice to be able to tune by ear.