What's a power chord on bass?

A root plus a perfect 5th — two notes. Power chords work for both major and minor contexts because they lack the 3rd.

Which tuning should I use?

Standard (E A D G) is the default. Drop D gives you a low D. D Standard tunes the whole instrument down a whole step for a heavier sound.

Is the bass chord identifier free?

Yes — no signup or downloads required.

Bass Chord Identifier - Free Online Bass Guitar Chord Finder

Identify bass guitar chords and dyads. Supports 4-string and 5-string bass with Standard, Drop D, D Standard, and Drop A tunings.

How to Use the Bass Chord Identifier

Select 4-string or 5-string bass from the instrument dropdown.
Pick your tuning — Standard, Drop D, or D Standard.
Tap the fretboard to build a chord or dyad.
The identifier shows chord names, intervals, and alternative readings.

Chords on Bass Guitar

Full chords are less common on bass than on guitar — the low register can sound muddy when too many notes are stacked. But dyads (two-note intervals), power chords (root + 5th), and tasteful inversions are everyday bass tools. Slap bass, chordal fingerstyle, and solo bass all lean on chordal playing.

Common Bass Tunings

Standard 4-string (E A D G): the foundation of most bass playing.
Drop D (D A D G): gives you a low D and makes power chords on the low strings easy.
D Standard (D G C F): entire instrument tuned a whole step down — heavier and thicker.
5-string Standard (B E A D G): adds a low B for extended range.
Half Step Down (Eb Ab Db Gb): common in some rock and metal styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play chords on bass?

Yes, but typically with fewer notes than on guitar. Dyads and three-note voicings sound clearer than dense four-note chords in the bass register.

What's a power chord?

Two notes a perfect 5th apart (root + 5th). It's neutral (neither major nor minor), which is why rock and metal use it so much — it works over both.

Why does the tool sometimes say “No chord”?

A single note isn't a chord. Two notes with a dissonant interval may not match a standard chord formula. Add a third note or change one of the notes to get a recognizable chord.

Does it support 5-string bass?

Yes. Select “5-String Bass” from the instrument dropdown. Standard tuning is B E A D G.

How do I find voicings for a specific chord?

Type the chord name (like “Em” or “D7”) in the search field. The tool shows playable voicings for your chosen bass and tuning.