Bass tuning

Piccolo bass (E-A-D-G high octave)

Piccolo bass keeps the standard notes, E-A-D-G, but a full octave higher. It is achieved with a dedicated set of light-gauge strings designed to hold that tuning.

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

Strings and frequencies

How it sounds

It sounds like a bass with a guitar voice: it keeps the fingering you already know, but in a bright, melodic register. It is ideal for solos, singing lines and recordings where the bass carries the melody.

Styles and genres

Recommended string gauges

A dedicated piccolo set is essential (very light gauges, around 0.020-0.052); with normal strings tuned up an octave the tension would be excessive and you would snap strings.

Tuning tip

Do not try to build a piccolo set from loose guitar strings without checking tensions: use a set designed for it, because the bass scale length completely changes the calculation.