How to Tune a Bass Guitar Using a Washburn Tuner
It is essential for your bass guitar to be in tune if you want to play along with a record or with other musicians. If you are unsure about how to tune your bass, don't worry. It's easy to do with a Washburn tuner and a patch cable (1/4" music cable).
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Instructions
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1
Plug one end of your patch cable into your bass and the other end into the tuner input jack.
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2
Turn the volume knob on your bass guitar to its highest setting.
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3
Turn on the tuner by pressing the power button. Make sure that the display screen reads 440hz--this is the standard frequency to tune your instrument to. If the tuner reads greater or less than 440hz, your instrument will end up in tune with itself, but will not sound in tune with other instruments or records on which the instruments are tuned to 440hz.
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4
Pluck the lowest string (E string) of your bass with your thumb or a pick and let it ring. Look at the tuner to see which note your string is sounding. If the note is below E (i.e., is flat), you need to turn the tuning key so that the string gets tighter; this will raise the pitch closer to the correct note. If the note is above E (meaning sharp), turn the tuning key so that the string gets looser; this will lower the pitch closer to the correct note. Tighten or loosen the tuning key while plucking the string until the tuner reads E and the needle on the display screen is perfectly centered.
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5
Continue the process described in Step 4 with the remaining three strings, tuning each of them to their respective notes. It is always a good idea to quickly check the tuning of each string a second time after you make it through all four strings; sometimes the strings will slip a little after the first tuning and need to be slightly adjusted.
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Tips & Warnings
The standard tuning for a four-string bass guitar is (from lowest to highest) EADG.
