Bass Guitar
Authority: Equal Temperament Pitch Frequency Table
Standard 4-string bass guitar tuning is E1-A1-D2-G2, exactly one octave below the bottom four strings of a standard guitar. At concert pitch, the frequencies are E1 41.20 Hz, A1 55.00 Hz, D2 73.42 Hz, and G2 98.00 Hz.
| String # | Note Name | Scientific Pitch | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (Thickest) | E | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
| 3 | A | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2 | D | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1 (Thinnest) | G | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
History & Origin
The electric bass guitar as we know it today began with Leo Fender, who built the first Fender Precision Bass in October 1951 and brought it to market in 1952. Fender's design reimagined the upright double bass as a fretted, solid-body electric instrument -- far more portable, easier to amplify on stage, and, thanks to the frets, capable of more consistent intonation than an unfretted upright, which inspired the 'Precision' name.
Because the Precision Bass was designed to replace the upright bass's role in a band, Fender tuned it E-A-D-G, matching the upright bass's pitches exactly -- and, by extension, one octave below the bottom four strings of a standard guitar. That relationship made the instrument immediately intuitive for guitarists to pick up, which helped drive its rapid adoption and cemented E-A-D-G as the standard tuning for 4-string bass ever since.