Tuning the bass by ear...

[Deleted member 165050]

Last night I was adjusting a new nut. I thought would see if I could guess the G string. Listened to it closely, tuned it to where is sounded right. Tuned the rest of the bass. Turns out I was 12 cents sharp.

OP, is this what you’re talking about?

A few years back I took my old acoustic DB to a local luthiery for a bridge fitting, when they'd finished adjusting it they asked me to stick it back on the bass and tune it to see how the action was... so no tuner and with a few people watching I did the A string from memory and then the rest from there and lo, it was correct to a tuning fork that suddenly got produced. I'd like to claim perfect pitch but I have to say even though I have perfect relative pitch it was total fluke to get that A right in the first place.

 

[Davbassdude]

Throughout the years, I've used different techniques for tuning by ear. Usually using a song in the key of E or A (referenced from memory). For some reason, the most recent song I've been using for referencing E is "Locomotive Breath" and for A is "Whipping Post". I'll usually go up to the 7th fret of the next strings to match the octaves.

 

[Hounddog409]

Hey all,
I've played both the bass and guitar for several years. One of the things I really have a horrible time with is tuning the bass by ear properly. I didn't usually have a problem tuning the guitar by ear, probably because of the higher frequencies, but with the bass, I always need a tuner--like always.

Am I just losing my hearing or is this normal? Does anyone else have problems identifying the notes of the lower strings when tuning? It seems a bit counterproductive in playing bass if I can't hear what I'm doing.

Who cares? I can't either. That's what tuners are for.

 

[JeffJ2112]

I'm usually mostly kinda sorta decent at it, but always check it with a tuner.

 

[Ekulati]

I have a terrible time with a low B string.

Use a fretted note. No law says you need the open note.

 

[Ekulati]

listen to the beading.

Uh... It's "beating," as in the difference tone created by two close frequencies sounding together.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Lower frequencies are harder to hear. Use harmonics (5th/7th fret).

 

[LBS-bass]

I have a fairly good ear and I'm pretty lousy at this too. I think it's just the nature of bass frequencies.

 

[The13thFret]

Am I just losing my hearing or is this normal? Does anyone else have problems identifying the notes of the lower strings when tuning? It seems a bit counterproductive in playing bass if I can't hear what I'm doing.

My limited study due to my own hearing loss always led me to believe that age and damage(exposure to high sound pressure levels) caused males in particular to lose top end hearing, high frequencies.
Everyone is different, and if you could do it and now you cant, maybe you are losing some low end frequencies. I think its like anything else, training and practice, the more you do it the easier it gets. If you are, as you say also tuning guitars, maybe your ear is just trained differently. I can tune a bass guitar pretty well, even better with a reference tone, but I wouldn't even attempt it for anything other than sitting on the couch or playing with friends.

d'addario true strobe pedal, best investment under a hundred bucks I ever made. I know there is some debate, despite the name whether it is a true strobe, but it works for me.

 

[Mushroo]

Uh... It's "beating," as in the difference tone created by two close frequencies sounding together.

I agree with you 100% but I also like the poetry of "beading." If you look at the waveform of the "beats" they look kind of like beads on a string.

 

[Turbo Sparky]

Reference note/tone.
Harmonics.
I usually can get within +/- 2 or 3 cents either way when checked against tuner.
...except when recording, tuner ALWAYS.
Good luck.

 

[D.M.N.]

Uh... It's "beating," as in the difference tone created by two close frequencies sounding together.

Thank you, you're right, that's what I get for typing on the phone while cooking.

 

[Mushroo]

Thank you, you're right, that's what I get for typing on the phone while cooking.

It's all good. Earlier today my phone autocorrected "Sex ed class" to "Sex Ed class." My teacher friend and I both had a good laugh at that one!

 

[nnnnnn]

It's all good. Earlier today my phone autocorrected "Sex ed class" to "Sex Ed class." My teacher friend and I both had a good laugh at that one!

Isn't it correct to capitalise both words if it's the name of the class?

 

[StatesideRambler]

The human ear is less discriminating at low frequencies than at high. I throw in with Mushroo: practice tuning (ear training) daily.

 

[Pilgrim]

I did it for years, both tuning to a violin in orchestra and to a pitch pipe in a band.

What people don't understand is that you DO NOT have to be in perfect tune, you just need to be in the same tune as the guitars in the band. If everyone is tuned compatibly, it sounds great. Orchestras tuned this way throughout history.

Get a G, D, A or E from the lead guitar and tune your same string to match. Now use the 5th fret on other strings as needed and tune by ear. Unless you're tone deaf you will sound just fine to an audience. Harmonics? Never use 'em. There's no point.

Still have my pitch pipe. It works.

(I should probably add "Get off my lawn," but the alert reader has already filled in that blank.)

 

[StatesideRambler]

Orchestras tune to the oboe.

 

[StyleOverShow]

Since I took up the upright again a couple of years ago my pitch perception has improved. Noticed that orchestral players tune by ear, close most of the time. I’ve started to ‘guess’ at pitch, mostly the old standby A, am getting better. Try it, it works...kinda

 

[keyboardguy]

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I can tune a bass to itself pretty accurately, but I may be slightly flat or sharp of standard tuning, depending on where the bass is when I start. I can usually get a bass in tune with music being played, recorded or live.

That being said, I use a tuner 99.9% of the time. The 0.1% is just when I get caught somewhere without one.