How to Tune an Electric Bass With an Electronic Tuner

You can tune an electric bass using an electronic tuner, pitch pipes, tuning fork or by listening to another instrument. However, an electronic tuner is the easiest and most accurate tuning method. Other methods rely on your listening ability, but with an electronic tuner, you know your electric bass is tuned perfectly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Plug the bass into an electronic tuner.

2. Pluck the thickest string. Tune the top string first; it has the lowest frequency.

3. Turn the tuning machine knob on the neck associated with that string to the desired pitch.

4. Tune each string according to the keys for the appropriate bass. Repeat Step 3 for each string.

5. Double check that your electric bass is tuned. When you turn the tuning machine knob, it'll move the bass's neck. To check each string, pluck the string and compare the pitch with the electronic tuner.

Resources

• Find an online community for musicians at Harmony Central.