A Beginners Guide to Tuning

by Chris Tarry

Pages: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4

Absolute Tuning
As stated in page 1, absolute tuning is the process of tuning your bass to reference pitches that you obtain from a tuning device such as the ActiveBass Tuner. The main task of tuning this way is to really be able to hear the reference pitch, to hear it clearly in your head, and to figure out whether the string you are tuning is below or above this reference pitch and adjusting the tuning peg for this string accordingly. To tune you bass this way, try the following steps:

1. Take a deep breath (optional)
2. Launch the ActiveBass Tuner by clicking on the tuner icon located in the lower left-hand corner of your browser.
3. Click on the red button above the left-most 'E' to hear the reference note for a low 'E'.
4. As it repeats, sing the note out loud. This will help you internalize the pitch.
5. Adjust the tuning peg of your 4th string until its pitch is exactly in tune with the reference note. (Note: In general, it is better to detune or loosen the pitch of your 4th string and to gradually tune up to the reference note instead of being initially above the reference note and tuning down to it.)

Congratulations, you have just tuned your 4th string! Now, following the remaining steps below to tune the rest of your bass:

1. Take another deep breath (again, optional)
2. Click on the red button above the 'A' to hear the reference note for an 'A'.
3. Adjust the tuning peg of your 3rd string until its pitch is exactly in tune with the reference note.
4. Click on the red button above the 'D' to hear the reference note for an 'D'.
5. Adjust the tuning peg of your 2nd string until its pitch is exactly in tune with the reference note.
6. Click on the red button above the 'G' to hear the reference note for an 'G'.
7. Adjust the tuning peg of your 1st string until its pitch is exactly in tune with the reference note.

Congratulations, you have tuned your bass! At this point, I always like to play a scale that I really know well (like a 'C' or an 'E') and test how it sounds. If it sounds a little off, you may want to double-check some of the strings.