4 strings · EADG (orchestral)

Double bass tuner.

Tune a double bass: E A D G (orchestral tuning), or go up to solo tuning, at any A4.

Tuner · Any tuning

Tune your double bass.

Pluck a string and the meter shows how far off it is. Tap any string to hear it at its true pitch and tune by ear.

  • Pick any instrument and tuning
  • Shift it down or up by half steps
  • Set A to anything: 440, 432, 442…

E A D G

The sound never leaves your device.

Keys: Space start or stop · ← → half step · ↑ ↓ A (Shift: bigger steps) · 1–9 string · M mode · R hear · − + volume · L copy link · Esc done

Ready

Tap Start, then pluck any string.

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Strings · tap to hear

Standard tuning

Double bass tuning

Orchestral tuning is E1 A1 D2 G2, the same notes as a bass guitar. The low E is 41.20 Hz, which phone mics hear only faintly.

Harmonics are the classic way to tune a double bass: they are louder and higher, so both your ear and the mic catch them easily.

Tip. Touch the string lightly at its middle and pluck: you get a harmonic one octave up. Turn on the ×2 harmonic mode to read it directly.

E A D G

Standard tuning: notes and frequencies

Double bass, EADG (orchestral): notes and frequencies in Hz at three common A4 references
StringNoteA = 440A = 432A = 442
4E141.2040.4541.39
3A155.0054.0055.25
2D273.4272.0873.75
1G298.0096.2298.44

Measured

How the tuner hears a double bass

On a phone, E1 is the hardest double bass string to hear: in our phone-mic model its fundamental arrives about 16 dB quieter, so the tuner works from the overtones and checks the octave against your tuning. In our phone-mic test E1 still read within about 2 ¢, the double bass strings above it within about 1.5 ¢, and clean test tones within 0.2 ¢.

error through a phone-mic model your double bass strings

Low notes. The lowest string here is E1 at 41.20 Hz. Most phone mics lose a lot of level below 80–⁠100 Hz, so they mostly hear the string's overtones. If the reading jumps, play the 12th-fret harmonic with the ×2 harmonic mode, or plug in through an audio interface. That's physics, not you.

How the tuner listens →

Shift the whole tuning

The tuner can move all four strings together, from an octave down to an octave up, and add fine cents on top. Each step keeps every chord shape the same.

  1. F♯ B E AAll strings 2 half steps higher. Notes: F sharp B E A
  2. F B♭ E♭ A♭All strings 1 half step higher. Notes: F B flat E flat A flat
  3. EADG (orchestral)This pageThe usual double bass tuning. Notes: E A D G
  4. E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭All strings 1 half step lower. Notes: E flat A flat D flat G flat
  5. D G C FAll strings 2 half steps lower. Notes: D G C F

Questions

What are the standard double bass notes?

From String 4 to String 1: E1 A1 D2 G2 (EADG (orchestral)). At A4 = 440 Hz they are 41.20, 55.00, 73.42, 98.00 Hz.

What is solo tuning?

Solo tuning raises every string a whole step: F♯1 B1 E2 A2. It needs solo strings. Tap the ▸ arrow on the tuning chip twice to get there.

Can I tune my double bass lower or higher?

Yes. Use the ◂ ▸ arrows on the tuning chip to move every string by a half step. One half step down takes about 11% of the tension off; one half step up adds about 12% (approx.).