Bass String Frequencies

Calculate open-string targets for standard 4-, 5-, and 6-string bass or Drop D at the A4 reference used by your band or session.

Bass tuningE1–A1–D2–G2, from the thickest string to the thinnest.Reference pitch (A4)

All targets are +0.0 cents from A440.

Bass open-string frequencies for the selected tuning and A4 reference
String	Note	Target frequency
4th string	E1	41.20 Hz
3rd string	A1	55.00 Hz
2nd string	D2	73.42 Hz
1st string	G2	98.00 Hz

Frequencies use 12-tone equal temperament. The displayed value is the open string's fundamental target; pickup position, plucking technique, room noise, and strong harmonics can make a microphone briefly report an octave or overtone instead.

Standard bass frequencies at A440

4th / lowest

41.20 Hz

3rd

55.00 Hz

2nd

73.42 Hz

1st / highest

98.00 Hz

These octave labels matter. A bass's open E is E1 at about 41.20 Hz, one octave below a guitar's low E2. A 5-string adds B0 at about 30.87 Hz; a 6-string normally adds both that low B0 and a high C3 at about 130.81 Hz.

At such low fundamentals, small speakers may reproduce the upper harmonics more strongly than the note itself. That does not change the target frequency, and it is one reason an instrument-specific detector and an octave label are useful.

How the calculation works

For MIDI note number n, frequency equals A4 × 2^{(n − 69) / 12}. Standard 4-string bass notes use MIDI numbers 28, 33, 38, and 43. Changing A4 moves every open-string target by the same number of cents and preserves the intervals.

Which reference should I use?

Use A4 = 440 Hz unless the fixed-pitch instrument, recording, bandleader, or session specifies another reference. If a track sits between pitches, adjust the reference for every string rather than tuning one string differently and leaving the others at A440.

Use the A440 targets with the tuner

Select the same string count and tuning, then play one clean open string at a time.

Open the bass tuner Compare every bass tuning