How to Adjust Intonation on Bass

Intonation is an important aspect of bass playing that ensures the notes you play are in tune with each other. Here are the steps to adjust the intonation on your bass:

1. Tune your bass: Before adjusting the intonation, you should make sure that your bass is properly tuned. Use a reliable tuner to tune each string accurately.

2. Check the intonation: Once your bass is tuned, play a note on the 12th fret of each string and compare it to the same note played on an open string. If the note on the 12th fret is sharp (higher in pitch) compared to the open string, the string length needs to be increased. If it is flat (lower in pitch) compared to the open string, the string length needs to be decreased.

3. Adjust the saddle: To adjust the intonation, you need to adjust the saddle of each string. On most basses, you can do this by using a small screwdriver to turn the screw on the saddle. Turn the screw clockwise to increase the string length and make the note flatter, and turn it counterclockwise to decrease the string length and make the note sharper.

4. Recheck the intonation: After adjusting the saddle, play the note on the 12th fret again and compare it to the open string. Continue adjusting the saddle until the note on the 12th fret is in tune with the open string.

5. Repeat the process: Once you have adjusted the intonation on all of your strings, go back and check each one again. It is common for adjusting one string to affect the intonation of the other strings, so you may need to make additional adjustments.

6. Check with different playing styles: Finally, check the intonation of your bass with different playing styles, such as playing higher up the neck or using different techniques like slapping or fingerstyle. Adjust as needed to ensure accurate intonation across all playing scenarios.

By following these steps, you can adjust the intonation on your bass and ensure that your playing is in tune and sounding great.