Half step down Tuning on 4-string bass guitar
Half step down tuning is D#1 G#1 C#2 F#2, written EbAbDbGb. All four strings down one semitone. Intervals are unchanged, so every fingering stays exactly the same.
Every frequency is computed from the MIDI number, not typed in. Each one links to its own reference page.
TuneStand needs microphone access to detect pitch. Audio is analysed on your device and never uploaded. Your browser will ask for permission next; nothing is recorded and nothing is sent to a server.
Tune by ear, no microphone needed
Play a reference pitch and match your instrument to it. This uses the same oscillator as the tone generator and needs no permission at all.
Why guitarists use Half step down tuning
It exists to match a guitarist tuned a semitone down rather than for any tonal reason of its own, which is the usual way bass tunings spread.
Where you will hear it: rock, blues, metal. 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.
Half step down compared with standard EADG 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) | Half step down | Half step down (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th (lowest) | E1 | 41.20 | D#1 | 38.89 | -1 semitone (-2.31 Hz) |
| 3rd | A1 | 55.00 | G#1 | 51.91 | -1 semitone (-3.09 Hz) |
| 2nd | D2 | 73.42 | C#2 | 69.30 | -1 semitone (-4.12 Hz) |
| 1st (highest) | G2 | 98.00 | F#2 | 92.50 | -1 semitone (-5.50 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 Half step down, string by string
- Play the 4th (lowest) open and adjust until the tuner reads D#1 at 38.89 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads G#1 at 51.91 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads C#2 at 69.30 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st (highest) open and adjust until the tuner reads F#2 at 92.50 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 Half step down tuning on a 4-string bass guitar?
Half step down is D#1, G#1, C#2, F#2, written EbAbDbGb. All four strings down one semitone. Intervals are unchanged, so every fingering stays exactly the same.
What are the frequencies of Half step down tuning?
D#1 is 38.89 Hz, G#1 is 51.91 Hz, C#2 is 69.30 Hz, F#2 is 92.50 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
4 of 4. the 4th (lowest) goes from E1 to D#1 (down 1 semitone), the 3rd goes from A1 to G#1 (down 1 semitone), the 2nd goes from D2 to C#2 (down 1 semitone), the 1st (highest) goes from G2 to F#2 (down 1 semitone).
What is the lowest note in Half step down tuning?
D#1 at 38.89 Hz, MIDI note 27. 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.
Other 4-string bass guitar tunings
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: .