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Open String Frequencies

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Richard D. Kienle, DVM

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Sep 22, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/22/97
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I am in the process of designing a speaker box for an orphan 15"
speaker I have laying around. I want to tune the port for a 5 string
bass. Can anyone tell me the frequencies of all the open strings on a
5 string bass tuned with low B?

Thanks,
Rick

Sascha LC Erni

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Sep 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/24/97
to Richard D. Kienle, DVM

just one thing...
there is no ONE frequency for an open string. most players tune for a' =
440Hz, but from band to band, this might differ. even symphony
orchestras tune between a' = 435Hz to 445Hz. i was once quite
surprised when a guy said "right, plug in there, by the way, we
play with 442Hz)...

anyhow, the E' string should be around 41 - 42 Hz, the B' something like
35Hz.

lc


Harvey Gerst

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Sep 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/24/97
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Sascha LC Erni <sle...@studi.unizh.ch> wrote:

>
>
>On Mon, 22 Sep 1997, Richard D. Kienle, DVM wrote:
>
>> I am in the process of designing a speaker box for an orphan 15"
>> speaker I have laying around. I want to tune the port for a 5 string
>> bass. Can anyone tell me the frequencies of all the open strings on a
>> 5 string bass tuned with low B?
>>

>> Rick
>
>just one thing...
>there is no ONE frequency for an open string. most players tune for a' =
>440Hz, but from band to band, this might differ. even symphony
>orchestras tune between a' = 435Hz to 445Hz. i was once quite
>surprised when a guy said "right, plug in there, by the way, we
>play with 442Hz)...
>
>anyhow, the E' string should be around 41 - 42 Hz, the B' something like
>35Hz.

Actually, because the string length is shorter than the note's wavelength, it
puts out less fundamental and more second harmonic. You might wish to experiment
using these tuning frequencies:

B: 61.735
E: 82.407
A: 110.00
D: 146.83
G: 196.00

The fundamental would be much weaker and one octave below these notes.

Harvey Gerst
Indian Trail Recording Studio
http://www.ITRstudio.com/

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