How to Tune Your Bass Guitar

Tuning the bass guitar to itself:
Play the note at the fifth fret of the low E string. At the same time, pick the open A string. These two notes are both A, so they should sound the same. When the two notes ring true harmoniously, play the fifth fret of the A string and the open D string. These two notes are D. When the D string sounds the same as the D note on the A string, start playing the fifth fret of the D string and tune the open G string to that. These are both G notes. Now your bass guitar is in tune.

Tuning the bass guitar to a piano:
Locate Middle C on the upright or grand piano. Then trek down two octaves and locate the C there. Then track down the E below that C. You will tune the lowest, or fourth, string of the bass guitar to this note. Play the open fourth string and the E on the piano at the same time. If you hear these two notes bounce off each other, your guitar is not in tune. Turn the tuning peg on your bass guitar with your left hand while you pick the guitar right hand and listen to the note being played on the piano. When the notes no longer bounce off each other and sound harmonious, your string is now in tune. Repeat this process for the G, D, and A strings until your bass is entirely in tune.

Tuning the bass guitar with a tuner:
Before I continue, I need to stress that you need to be able to tune your guitar using other methods mentioned above as well.

First, there are many online tuners you can find by using a search engine on the Internet. They are self explanatory and should be very useful to you. However, you will need a portable electronic bass tuner in cases where you can't reach a computer. In general, I find electronic tuners easier to use and more reliable than computer tuners.

There are only two types of tuners, but the difference between them is very notable. One type, usually called guitar tuners to bass and guitar tuners, can only detect five out of the twelve possible notes. These make it useless for putting your guitar to other tunings.

Instead, you should opt for a chromatic tuner. These tuners have all twelve notes, not just five. So you can tune any string to any note you wish.

Happy tuning!