Bass 5-String (Low B) Tuner — Tune to 5-String (Low B) in Your Browser
Mic-based chromatic tuner pre-set to 5-String (Low B). No download, no sign-up, works in your browser.
Tuning summary
- Notes (low to high)
- B0 · E1 · A1 · D2 · G2
- Instrument
- Bass
- About this tuning
- Adds a low B below standard four-string bass. Standard for modern session and metal bassists.
Start tuning
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About 5-String (Low B) on bass
5-string bass with low B is tuned B E A D G, low to high — B0, E1, A1, D2, G2. The fifth string adds a perfect fourth below the standard 4-string's low E, dropping the lowest note to B0 at roughly 30.9 Hz. The other four strings stay at their familiar standard pitches, so every 4-string pattern transfers without modification.
The low B opens harmonic and arrangement options that a 4-string cannot reach. Songs in B, E, and A gain a thunderous low root on a single open or fretted note rather than an octave above. Walking-bass lines in jazz extend their range downward by a fourth, and modern church and gospel arrangements lean on the low B for the bottom of contemporary pad-and-bass voicings. Riffing in keys like C# and D no longer requires reaching up the neck because those notes sit comfortably on the fifth string.
5-string with a low B is now the default in modern session work, contemporary worship, and most styles of metal where the bass mirrors a detuned guitar. Many Nashville and pop session players keep one 5-string permanently in this layout. The exact gauge of the low B varies by player and scale length — 35-inch-scale basses keep B0 tight, while 34-inch instruments often need a thicker .130 or .135 string to avoid floppiness.
If you are coming from a 4-string, the only adjustment is muting. The extra string changes how your right-hand thumb anchors and how you keep unused strings quiet. Start by playing your familiar 4-string repertoire on the same four strings of the 5-string while resting your thumb on the low B. Once muting feels automatic, integrate the fifth string for octave-down phrases and root-fifth power figures. Trying to use the low B too aggressively at first is a common trap — it tends to wash out a mix when overused.
Frequently asked questions
- Will I need different strings for a 5-string bass?
- Yes — buy a 5-string set. Common gauges are 45-130 or 45-135. The fifth string is significantly thicker than the others and is sold only as part of 5-string sets.
- Why does my low B sound floppy and unclear?
- Either the string is too light for your scale length, or the bass needs a setup. A 34-inch-scale bass benefits from a heavier .130 or .135 low B, and proper neck relief plus higher saddle height helps the lowest string speak.
- Can I play 4-string bass tabs on a 5-string?
- Yes — every 4-string pattern lives unchanged on the top four strings. The low B is purely additive.
- Does a 5-string put extra stress on the neck?
- Slightly. Total tension is higher than a 4-string. Most 5-string basses are built with reinforced or graphite-stiffened necks specifically for this. A truss-rod adjustment is normal after switching to or from a 5-string.
- How do I quickly switch back to a 4-string mindset?
- Mentally ignore the fifth string and play only on the top four. Many 5-string players spend the first month doing exactly this until muting becomes automatic.