Bass tuning
Half-step down (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb)
It is standard bass tuning lowered by a semitone: Eb-Ab-Db-Gb. All the standard fingerings are preserved, they just sound half a step lower.
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 | Gb2 | 92.50 Hz |
| String 2 | Db2 | 69.30 Hz |
| String 3 | Ab1 | 51.91 Hz |
| String 4 | Eb1 | 38.89 Hz |
How it sounds
It gives a slightly thicker, more relaxed sound, and it is essential for playing with guitars or keyboards tuned half a step down, which is very common in rock and metal.
Styles and genres
Rock
Metal
Hard rock
Blues
Recommended string gauges
Tension drops only a little, so a standard 0.045-0.105 set still works well. For more firmness, move up to 0.050-0.110.
Tuning tip
It is the simplest way to fit a band playing in Eb without transposing anything: keep your usual positions and everything lines up.
Related tunings
- Standard 4-string: the tuning it starts from, with nothing lowered
- Drop D: only the fourth string drops, instead of all four
- D standard: a whole tone down instead of just half
- Drop C: combines a whole-tone drop with dropping the low string, for an even lower register
Updated