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Inmusic theory, thebass note of achord orsonority is the lowestnote played or notated. If there are multiplevoices it is the note played or notated in the lowest voice (the note furthest in thebass.)

Three situations are possible:

1. The bass note is theroot or fundamental of the chord. The chord is inroot position.
2. One of the other pitches of the chord is in the bass. This makes it aninverted chord
3. The bass note isnot one of the notes in the chord. Such a bass note is an additional note, coloring the chord above it. Such a chord is also called aslash chord.

In pre-tonal theory (Early music), root notes were not considered and thus the bass was the most defining note of a sonority. See:thoroughbass. Inpandiatonic chords the bass often does not determine the chord, as is always the case with anonharmonic bass.^{[citation needed]}

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