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Tuning Your Bass GuitarEach time you pick up your instrument the first thing you gotta do is make sure it's in tune. There are 3 ways to tune a bass: 1) Use an electronic tuner 2) Use the open string method 3) Use the harmonics method.
Here's a Video Lesson I recorded for my 'virtual DVD' series of lessons. Combine this with the PDF (see bottom of page) and you should have a good idea on how to tune your bass! There are some brief notes below the video too.
1) USE AN ELECTRONIC TUNER Everyone should own an electronic tuner. It's the quickest and most accurate way to tune your guitar there is - and it's cheap, you can pick up a tuner that does the job for around £10($20). Using an electronic is tuner, you simply plug your guitar into the tuner and play your strings one by one. Most tuners will detect which string you are playing and will have a digital display that lets you know if your are flat or sharp and you simply adjust your tuning peg until the display lets you know that you are in tune. Repeat for all strings and you're ready to play! 2) USE THE OPEN STRING METHOD This is how we tuned at rehearsals/gigs/jams back in the day. The methodology is simple - you get a note that you know is 'in tune' - preferably from a keyboard player - tune one string to that note and then tune your other strings to the string that's in tune. Let's assume you've tuned your G string. To tune the D string simply fret it at the 5th fret (being careful not to mute the G string) and sound the G string and then the D string. The D string is in tune when the two notes sound identical. If you hear an oscillation (a 'wah wah wah wah' kind of noise) that means there is a tuning discrepancy - the faster the noise the bigger the discrepancy. When the D string is tuned you can tune the A string to it. Fret the A string at the 5th fret and sound the D string and then the A string. When the two notes sound identical then the A string is in tune. When the A string is in tune you can tune the E string to it - fret the E string at the 5th fret and sound the A string and then the E string. When the two notes sound identical then the E string is in tune and you're ready to play! 3) THE HARMONICS METHOD This method is similar to the open string method - except that instead of tuning to an open string you tune to one of the natural harmonics on the bass. (A harmonic is a bell like chime that can be produced at certain points on the bass - if you've ever hear any of bass player Jaco Pastorius's work you'll have heard harmonics!). Again, let's assume you've tuned your G string to the keyboard. Now place your finger over the 7th fret on the G string. Apply pressure to the string - but not enough that you push the string to the fretboard. Now sound the note (TIP! playing by the bridge is good for harmonics) - you should produce a clear, bell like note (technically this is an overtone, but you don't need to know the theory behind that at the moment. It is what it is, period.) Now repeat the procedure, this time at the 5th fret of the D string. When you are comfortable with this technique, sound both harmonics. If the D string is in tune, both notes will sound the same. Once the D string is in tune then tune the A string by using the harmonic at the 7th fret of the D string, and the harmonic of the 5th fret on the A string. For the E string, use the harmonics located at the 7th fret of the A string and the 5th fret of the E string. When you're in tune, you're ready to play! RECOMMENDATION Everyone should own an electronic tuner - but I love the concept of making exercises do double duty. When you're tuning your bass I recommend that you tune your G string and then you tune the rest of your bass with the open string method outlined above or the harmonics method. And try tuning other strings with your tuner and then tuning your bass - you'll get a quick bit of ear training practise and also prepare for the day on a gig when something happens to your tuner! (or you forget it as I shamefully did last Saturday 30/06/08) A fuller version of this lesson is available as a PDF download by clicking here.
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