Tenor (high C) Tuning on 5-string bass guitar
Tenor (high C) tuning is E1 A1 D2 G2 C3, written EADGC. Instead of adding a string below the low E, add one a perfect fourth above the G. The bottom four match a standard 4-string exactly.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th (lowest) | E1 | 41.20 | 28 |
| 4th | A1 | 55.00 | 33 |
| 3rd | D2 | 73.42 | 38 |
| 2nd | G2 | 98.00 | 43 |
| 1st (highest) | C3 | 130.81 | 48 |
Every frequency is computed from the MIDI number, not typed in. Each one links to its own reference page.
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Why guitarists use Tenor (high C) tuning
It extends the instrument upward rather than downward, which suits soloing and chordal playing where the top of a 4-string runs out of range. Bass sets are sold for both layouts, so which one a 5-string uses is a choice, not a property of the instrument.
Where you will hear it: jazz, fusion, solo bass. That list is deliberately limited to genres and playing traditions. Attributing a tuning to specific songs or players is the kind of claim that needs a source, and this page does not make claims it cannot back up.
Tenor (high C) compared with standard BEADG tuning
This is the table that tells you how far to turn each peg, in semitones and in hertz. A negative semitone value means the string goes down.
| String | Standard | Standard (Hz) | Tenor (high C) | Tenor (high C) (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th (lowest) | B0 | 30.87 | E1 | 41.20 | +5 semitones (+10.34 Hz) |
| 4th | E1 | 41.20 | A1 | 55.00 | +5 semitones (+13.80 Hz) |
| 3rd | A1 | 55.00 | D2 | 73.42 | +5 semitones (+18.42 Hz) |
| 2nd | D2 | 73.42 | G2 | 98.00 | +5 semitones (+24.58 Hz) |
| 1st (highest) | G2 | 98.00 | C3 | 130.81 | +5 semitones (+32.81 Hz) |
Notice that equal semitone steps are not equal hertz steps: the same whole step is worth about 9 Hz down at the bottom string and far more at the top. That is why tuners report cents, which are proportional, rather than hertz.
How to tune to Tenor (high C), string by string
- Play the 5th (lowest) open and adjust until the tuner reads E1 at 41.20 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 4th open and adjust until the tuner reads A1 at 55.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads D2 at 73.42 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads G2 at 98.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st (highest) open and adjust until the tuner reads C3 at 130.81 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
Retune in two passes. Changing the tension on one string changes the pull on the neck, so the strings you set first will have drifted slightly by the time you finish the last one. That effect is larger the further the tuning sits from standard, so a tuning that moves four or more strings almost always needs a third pass.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is Tenor (high C) tuning on a 5-string bass guitar?
Tenor (high C) is E1, A1, D2, G2, C3, written EADGC. Instead of adding a string below the low E, add one a perfect fourth above the G. The bottom four match a standard 4-string exactly.
What are the frequencies of Tenor (high C) tuning?
E1 is 41.20 Hz, A1 is 55.00 Hz, D2 is 73.42 Hz, G2 is 98.00 Hz, C3 is 130.81 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
5 of 5. the 5th (lowest) goes from B0 to E1 (up 5 semitones), the 4th goes from E1 to A1 (up 5 semitones), the 3rd goes from A1 to D2 (up 5 semitones), the 2nd goes from D2 to G2 (up 5 semitones), the 1st (highest) goes from G2 to C3 (up 5 semitones).
What is the lowest note in Tenor (high C) tuning?
E1 at 41.20 Hz, MIDI note 28. Low notes take longer for a pitch detector to lock onto, so play the string firmly and let it ring before trusting the cents reading.
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .