The bass ukulele’s range in notes and hertz
This is the U-Bass type with rubbery strings, tuned like a bass guitar. Metal-strung bass ukuleles are tuned an octave higher, E2–G3 open.
Written and sounding pitch
The bass ukulele is a transposing instrument: it sounds an octave lower than written. So the range on its part is E2–B4, while the notes you hear are E1–B3. The transposing-instrument tuner reads out the written note as you play.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the bass ukulele’s:
- Bass guitar · E1–G4 32 notes shared
- Contrabassoon · B♭0–D4 32 notes shared
- Piano · A0–C8 32 notes shared
- French horn · F1–F5 31 notes shared
- Tuba · F1–C4 31 notes shared
- 8-string guitar · F♯1–C♯6 30 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Bass ukulele tuner — tune by microphone, with the bass ukulele’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a bass ukulele?
The bass ukulele’s full range runs from E1 to B3 — 41.20 to 246.94 Hz, about 2.6 octaves. Its part is written E2–B4, because it sounds an octave lower than written.
What is the lowest note on a bass ukulele?
E1 (41.20 Hz).
What is the highest note on a bass ukulele?
B3 (246.94 Hz).