In
music theory, the bass note of a
chord or
sonority is the lowest
note played or notated. If there are multiple
voices it is the note played or notated in the lowest voice (the note furthest in the
bass.)
Three situations are possible:
The bass note is the
root or fundamental of the chord. The chord is in
root position.
One of the other pitches of the chord is in the bass. This makes it an
inverted chord
The bass note is not one of the notes in the chord. Such a bass note is an additional note, coloring the chord above it. The name of such a chord is also notated as a
slash chord.