Bass tuning

Drop A (A-E-A-D)

Drop A leaves the bass at A-E-A-D, a very low tuning that lowers the strings and sinks the lowest to a deep A. The two lowest strings sit an octave apart, ready for one-finger power chords.

馃幐 Open the tuner in this tuning

The tuner opens already preconfigured; you only need to allow microphone access.

Strings and frequencies

String Note Hz
String 1 D2 73.42 Hz
String 2 A1 55.00 Hz
String 3 E1 41.20 Hz
String 4 A0 27.50 Hz

How it sounds

It is low, brutal and very heavy, meant for the most extreme modern metal and for backing seven- or eight-string guitars. The low A string demands gauge and technique to sound defined.

Styles and genres

Modern metal Djent Deathcore Metalcore

Recommended string gauges

Extra-heavy gauge territory: 0.065-0.130 or more so the low A has tension and attack. With normal strings it would sound loose, diffuse and buzz hopelessly.

Tuning tip

Isolate the low end with technique: mute the strings you are not playing with your palm and thumb, because this low any stray resonance turns the sound into an undefined mud.

Updated