Chords on Bass?
Yes, you read that correctly: chords on bass. Chords, or the combination of notes to form harmony, are usually played on instruments like guitar and piano due to their higher pitch. Playing chords on the bass guitar can often sound overwhelming and mucky. For example, guitarists often use barre chords to navigate chord progressions better. Take the A-major chord barred on the 5th fret (listed below). On guitar, this barre chord sounds full and beautiful. Now try that same chord on a bass guitar (exact positioning but without the high B and E strings). It sounds terrible. The A note on the 5th fret of the E string is deep and powerful, and when we combine it with the other notes of the chord, it sounds very mucky. Now, try playing that same chord but do not play the low A note on the E string. It starts to sound a little better. We’re still playing the same chord; we’re just removing the low voicing of the root note. We are still playing the A note on the D string on the 7th fret, so the low A note on the E string is unnecessary.
That 3-note chord we are playing is an A major chord. We are playing an A, E, and C#, forming the A major triad. If you move that same shape anywhere on the neck, you can play a different major chord. Try it out on the 12th fret of the A string. Pinky on the 12th fret A string, ring finger on the 12th fret D string, and middle finger on the 11th fret of the G string. This forms the major triad for the D major chord (listed below). If you slide the shape down two frets (a whole step), you are now playing the C major triad (listed below).
Intervals
If the 3-note chord sounds too overpowering, you can switch things up using intervals! Intervals are the essence of chords and allow bass players to voice a chord without overwhelming the guitar player. Essentially, we are playing the two most important notes of the chord while the high-pitched guitar takes care of the rest. A good use of an interval would be the 1st and the 3rd note in the major scale: forming the major third interval. Let’s try this out on the 10th fret of the A string. Put your middle finger on the 10th fret of the A string and your pointer finger on the 9th fret of the D string. Play those two notes together, and you’ve got a G major interval! If you want to add more depth to the sound, you can add the octave of the G# note by playing the 12th fret of the G string (listed below).
Most Common Chords
Now that you’ve learned two different ways to play/outline major chords let’s look at one of the most common chords: power chords. Guitarists often use “power chords” in rock and metal. “Power chords” are a root, the 5th, and the octave. This is essentially another interval with the addition of an octave to add another layer. In bass, we can also play power chords. Try starting on the 7th fret of the A string (E note) with your pointer finger, the 9th fret of the D string with your ring finger, and the 9th fret of the G string with your pinky (listed below). This is the power chord shape, and it can be applied anywhere on the neck.
Using all the chords we learned, let’s combine them to form a progression. Start with the E power chord, then the G major interval chord, D major triad, and the C major triad. This is a typical rock chord progression, and it’s used in the song “Polly” by Nirvana. Listen to the song or watch the video to go along with this article for more information!
A-Major Barre Chord | D-Major Triad | C-Major Triad
G-Major Interval Chord | E Power Chord
