Upright Bass
Overview
Tuning Steps
Sweetened Tunings
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Upright Bass
Overview
The upright bass is commonly tuned to EADG regardless of music genre, but there are other tunings. Many seasoned professional bassists “tweak” their tuning to improve their sound; we call this “Sweetened Tuning”.
If you are not familiar with this kind of tuning jargon, relax, because there is one tuner that does it all for you. Because of Peterson tuners unique “Sweetened Tuning” feature, each tuner has a host of tempered presets which you simply choose - the tuner then guides you automatically – just like using an ordinary tuner – but sweeter. Its easy! Using your Peterson strobe tuner, your bass will sound much better than when tuned using an ordinary tuner.
Many tuners have difficulty deciphering pitch from an upright bass due to the complexity of tone, Peterson Tuners have been used for many decades in orchestras around the world to track the lowest pitches including double basses with B and C extended ranges.
How To Tune Your Upright Bass
- Begin with the first string, if you’re right-handed it’s located furthest away from your bow or plucking hand when holding the bass in normal playing position.
- Pluck to sound the 1st string and observe the tuner display, check that the note “G” is displayed. With your left hand, adjust the tuning peg to stop the strobe pattern image from moving contuously in any one direction, continue to adjust until the strobe pattern is motionless.
- Repeat the above for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings until all strings are tuned.
Standard And Alternate Tunings for upright family instruments
Upright Bass
E1 A1 D2 G2
Standard
F#1 B1 E2 A2
Standard
E1 G-1 B0 D2 G2
Berio
A1 D2 G2
Contrabass Fourths
C1 G1 D2 A2
Fifths
A1 D2 G2 C3
Fifths
F1 A1 D2 E2
Scelsi
G1 D2 A2
Contrabass Fifths
B0 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String I
E1 A1 D2 C3
Raised C
F1 A1 F2 E3
Scelsi
C1 G1 C2
Contrabass Fifths II
C1 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String II
D1 A1 D2 G2
Drop D
E1 G1 D2 A2
Berlioz/Strauss
F1 A1 D2 F#2 A2
Viennese
E1 A1 D2 G2 C3
5-String III
C1 A1 D2 C3
Glen Moore
E1 B1 E2 A2
Combination
C1 A1 D2 G2
Violone
Double Bass
Contrabass
String Bass
Upright Bass
E1 A1 D2 G2
Standard
C1 G1 D2 A2
Fifths
B0 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String I
C1 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String II
E1 A1 D2 G2 C3
5-String III
E1 A1 D2 G2
Standard
C1 G1 D2 A2
Fifths
B0 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String I
C1 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String II
E1 A1 D2 G2 C3
5-String III
E1 A1 D2 G2
Standard
C1 G1 D2 A2
Fifths
B0 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String I
C1 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String II
E1 A1 D2 G2 C3
5-String III
E1 A1 D2 G2
Standard
C1 G1 D2 A2
Fifths
B0 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String I
C1 E1 A1 D2 G2
5-String II
E1 A1 D2 G2 C3
5-String III
Double Bass
Contrabass
String Bass
Sweetened Tunings
Sweeteners For Upright Bass
Products With Upright Bass Sweeteners
StroboClip HDC
$79.99
StroboStomp Mini
$119.00
StroboStomp LE
$169.00
StroboPLUS HDC
$179.99
StroboStomp HD
$149.00
StroboClip HD
$59.99
StroboPLUS HD
$149.99
iStroboSoft™ (iOS)
$9.99
Things to check to get the most out of your instrument’s tuning
2. Tune UP - not down – when tuning to the pitch of a note on your bass.
3. Tune as you intend to play, with bow or fingers.
Famous Upright Basses
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