Virtual instrument
Virtual Bass Guitar
Play open strings and fretted notes on a four-string bass in standard E–A–D–G tuning. Each button sounds the written pitch from fret 0 through fret 12.
Virtual bass fretboard
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | |||||||||||||
| A1 | |||||||||||||
| D2 | |||||||||||||
| G2 |
Fret 12 repeats the open-string note one octave higher.
How the bass fretboard is organized
Every fret raises the pitch by one semitone. Moving two frets equals a whole tone; moving twelve frets reaches the octave. Memorize the natural notes on the E and A strings first because they are common roots for scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions.
Virtual bass exercises
Octaves
Play an open string, then fret 12. Match the pitch class while hearing the register change.
Fourths
Compare neighboring open strings and sing the higher note before pressing it.
Root movement
Play E, A, D, and G roots, then build simple I–IV–V patterns.
Frequently asked questions
What is standard bass guitar tuning?
A four-string electric bass is normally tuned E1, A1, D2, G2 from the thickest string to the thinnest. Adjacent strings are a perfect fourth apart.
Where are the same notes repeated?
The twelfth fret is one octave above the open string. The fifth fret of a lower string usually matches the next open string, except when using alternate tunings.
Can this replace a real bass?
It is a note-reference and ear-training tool. It does not reproduce string feel, articulation, pickup response, or amplifier dynamics.