4-String Bass tuner – Low C
C-A-D-G · Alternative
Press “Start tuner” – the browser will ask for microphone access. Sound is analysed on this device and never uploaded.
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your 4-String Bass is to Low C tuning (C-A-D-G). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About Low C tuning
Compared with Standard (EADG), Low C moves 1 string. Every change is downward, the largest by 4 semitones, so the instrument sits at lower tension than in Standard (EADG).3 strings stay exactly where they were.
| String | Standard (EADG) | Low C | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E1 | C1 | down 4 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound C-A-D-G – from C1 at the bottom to G2 at the top, a span of 1 octave and 7 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a major sixth, a fourth, a fourth, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
Dropping 4 semitones takes the tension down noticeably. A heavier set – or at least a heavier bottom string – keeps the intonation honest and stops the low string buzzing.
History
Where the Low C tuning comes from
C-A-D-G lowers only the E string by a major third. It is a rare tuning used to reach a low C on a four-string when a five-string is not available; there is no documented origin.
Other 4-String Bass tunings
Alternative
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my 4-String Bass to Low C?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (C-A-D-G).
Which notes are used in Low C tuning?
Low C tuning for 4-String Bass uses the notes C-A-D-G, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.