Does someone know at what frequency an open A string vibrates?

On a "bass", I think it's 55Hz.

 

I think so too. No, I don't think, I know it is.

 

So B is 31, E is 41 and A is 55

The first jump is 10, the next jump is 14.

140% of 55 = 77 so is that D?

Is so, then would 108 be G?

 

Gabu asked...

So B is 31, E is 41 and A is 55

The first jump is 10, the next jump is 14.

140% of 55 = 77 so is that D?

Is so, then would 108 be G?

You don't have a representative sample - but I like your thinking

The interval between steps in an octave is based on the twelfth root of 2, which means the ratio between a note and a note one step higher is 1.05946309436. If you want to use a rough approximation, 18/17 is pretty close. Since a bass guitar is tuned in fourths, the frequency interval between strings can be expressed as

CAUTION: Math ahead...

1.05946309436^5, or

1.3348398541744739198966537767476

which is way too long for our calculations, but if you plug it into the calculator on your PC you'll see it makes sense.

This is the same formula used to place frets - only in reverse.

so -

if B0 = 30.87Hz, then

E1 = 41.2Hz

A1 = 55Hz

D2 = 73.42Hz

G2 = 98Hz

C3 = 130.81Hz

I know this is probably more information than you wanted - sorry about that.

allan

 

Thanks for the info! Math doesn't bug me. Cool to know how it works!

 

Yeah, it works!

There's a neat little trick I learned way back in music theory class...when you raise a note to its octave, it's frequency doubles. So, if an A1 is 55 hz, an A2 is 110 hz.

 

oww, my head... math hurts... oww...

 

A tip for the UK bassists. It's something I've done a number of times.

If you've no other means of tuning your bass, listen closely to the hum produced by a flourescent light fitting (assuming there's one available).

The frequency you're listening to is 100Hz. With open G @ 98 Hz, you can tune to that and be pretty close to being @ concert pitch. The band then tunes to the bass

John

 

Oh what a clever lot you are!!!

Three cheers for Talkbassers!