Bass tuning
5-string standard (B-E-A-D-G)
The standard five-string bass adds a B string below the E, giving B-E-A-D-G. It extends the low range by five semitones without losing the all-fourths tuning or any of the usual strings.
馃幐 Open the tuner in this tuningThe tuner opens already preconfigured; you only need to allow microphone access.
Strings and frequencies
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| String 1 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| String 2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| String 3 | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| String 4 | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| String 5 | B0 | 30.87 Hz |
How it sounds
It is the standard choice when you need notes below the low E: gospel, modern worship, metal, fusion and much of current pop. The B string opens a whole new register under the hand.
Styles and genres
Recommended string gauges
The key is a B with enough mass: a 0.045-0.130 set is the usual starting point. A B that is too thin sounds loose and undefined, the most common problem on five-strings.
Tuning tip
If the B sounds diffuse, try playing it closer to the bridge and with less force: the B needs a different attack from the rest for the note to define rather than smear.
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