Drop D Bass Tuner
Drop D is the simplest alternate tuning for bass: only the 4th string, the thickest, goes down a whole step, from E1 (41.20 Hz) to D1 (36.71 Hz). The other three stay on A, D and G, so the bass reads D A D G. This drop D bass tuner is our bass tuner, set up for low notes, with Drop D already selected.
String notes and frequencies
Bass guitar tuning, drop D (4 strings): D1 A1 D2 G2, from 36.71 Hz to 98.00 Hz, with A4 = 440 Hz.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| String 4 | D1 | 36.71 |
| String 3 | A1 | 55.00 |
| String 2 | D2 | 73.42 |
| String 1 | G2 | 98.00 |
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and check that the Tuning menu shows Drop D.
- Loosen the 4th string slowly, plucking as you go, until the tuner shows D and the needle sits in the middle.
- Check A, D and G: dropping one string changes the pull on the neck a little, and the others can move a few cents.
- If the reading wanders, tap the 4th string's button to lock it and play the 12th-fret harmonic: D2, an octave up, at about 73 Hz.
Help and explanations
It adds two semitones at the bottom and puts a one-finger fifth or octave across the two low strings. Bassists use it to follow a guitarist in drop D, everywhere in rock, grunge and metal, and to reach a low D in songs in the key of D.
Reading a note this low
D1 is only 36.7 Hz, below what many phone microphones capture well, so the tuner mostly hears its overtones. If the needle wanders, lock the 4th string and play the 12th-fret harmonic: it sounds D2 (73.42 Hz), an octave up, and the tuner counts it as the same string.
Two checks by ear: the 4th string at the 7th fret gives A, which must match the open 3rd string, and the 4th string's 12th-fret harmonic must match the open 2nd string, D.
Playing with a guitar in drop D
When the guitarist uses drop D (D A D G B E), your low D sounds one octave below their 6th string and the power-chord shapes line up: a riff on the guitar's two or three low strings maps straight onto your 4th and 3rd. To return to E A D G, choose 4-string in the menu or open the bass tuner.
Drop levers and string tension
Some basses have a drop lever on the E tuner, often called a D-tuner, that flips the string between E and D. Set its two stops with this page: one with the needle centered on E, the other on D. A whole step down loses some tension; if the 4th string buzzes, raise the action slightly or use a slightly heavier string.
Tips
- Pluck with a finger and not too hard: a hard attack pushes the slack string sharp and the needle jumps.
- Acoustic bass, or an electric without an amp: hold the phone close to the body. With an amp, put it near the speaker.
- Switching between E and D often? Loosen a little past D and come back up to it: a string tuned from below holds better.
- Going lower? Drop C lowers all four strings one more whole step, C G C F; the drop C bass tuner has it preselected.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of drop D on bass?
D A D G, from the 4th string to the 1st: D1 (36.71 Hz), A1 (55.00 Hz), D2 (73.42 Hz) and G2 (98.00 Hz), with A4 = 440 Hz. Only the 4th string differs from standard E A D G.
How far do I lower the E string?
A whole step, two frets: from E1 to D1. The note at the 2nd fret of the 4th string becomes the old open E.
Can I tune a bass without plugging it into an amp?
Yes. Pluck near the phone's microphone. For the lowest note, lock the tuner to that string and use the 12th-fret harmonic.
Does a 5-string bass need drop D?
Usually not: the low B of a 5-string bass already goes lower than D, which is the 3rd fret of the B string.
Why does the needle wobble on the low D?
Very low notes take time to read. Let the string ring for two or three seconds and read the needle once it settles.
Does drop D hurt the bass?
No. Lowering one string slightly reduces the pull on the neck, which is harmless. A big change on every string may call for a setup; one string a whole step down usually doesn't.