How to Tune a Bass Guitar by Hand

Tuning a bass guitar is easiest if you have an electronic tuner, but there never seems to be one handy just when you need it. The ability to tune without the aid of an electronic gizmo is one of the most handy abilities any musician can have. There are, of course, several ways to accomplish this; some are more effective and harder, some are easier and less accurate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Method 1: The Fifth Fret

1. 
    
   Fretting the E string on the fifth fret

   Assume that the lowest pitched (fattest) string is in tune, in the absence of a reference note. This note is E. Place your finger on the fifth fret of the E string and pluck it. Pluck the open A string (the next highest pitched string). They should make the same note. If they do not, adjust the A string's tuning machine until they are.

2. Move on to the D string once the A string is in tune. Place your finger on the fifth fret of the A string and pluck both the A and the D strings together. If the D string's note is the higher of the two, make it lower. If it is the lower of the two, make it higher. When the D string is in tune, it will make the same sound as the A string with the fifth fret pressed down.

3. Play the D string at the fifth fret and the open G at the same time. If they don't make the same note, adjust the G string until they do. Once the G, or first string, is in tune, you are ready to play.

Method 2: Harmonics

4. 
    
   Pointing out the 12th and 7th fret harmonic locations.

   Play the 12th fret harmonic along with the 7th fret harmonic on the A string (the next thinnest string), assuming that your lowest string, the E, is in tune. The two notes should be a perfect octave apart. If they are not, adjust the A string's tuning machine until the two notes match.

5. Play the 12th fret harmonic on the A string and match it to the 7th fret harmonic from the D string.

6. Use the tuning machines to match the 7th fret harmonic on the G string to the 12th fret harmonic of the D string.

Third Method: Open Strings

7. Assume that your highest pitched (thinnest) string, or G, is in tune and play it open, along with the open D string. The two should sound a perfect fourth apart. Adjust the D string accordingly. If you don't know what a perfect fourth sounds like, don't try this method of tuning.

8. Play the D and the A strings together, and adjust the A string so the two strings sound a perfect fourth apart.

9. Think about your tuning method for this last step. The A string and the E string should also sound a perfect fourth apart, but are harder to discern using this method. It is recommended that you use one of the other methods to tune the low E string. If you prefer to use this method, simply adjust the E string until it sounds a perfect fourth apart from the open A string.

Tips & Warnings

• The fifth fret method is the easiest, but least accurate way to tune.
• The harmonic method is much more accurate, but is harder to do than the fifth fret method.
• The open string method is very accurate, but can be difficult because of the specific pitches involved.
• In the harmonic method, you can also match the 5th fret harmonic to the 7th fret harmonic on the next string, but this is not as accurate.
• Without a reference note, you have to assume that at least one of your strings is in tune. It is likely, however that none of them are in tune, but at least your bass will play in tune with itself.
• If you keep turning the peg and the notes never seem to line up, turn it the other way, it is quite possible that you've gone too far.
• Bass strings are expensive, so try not to break them while tuning--don't tighten them too much.

[mark2298]

on 2/18/2009 Wow, great tips thank you but wouldn't it be easier to use a site like http://www.howtoplaybass.co.uk/online_bass_tuner.html for it's online bass tuner. I do get you, if you wished to learn with out a tuner fair enough. Anyways thanks.