Adjust your truss rod and adjust your action, if necessary, before setting the intonation of your bass. Adjusting the truss rod and adjusting the action on your bass changes the distance between the bridge saddles and the nut. Any such change will affect the intonation of the bass.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 1Bullet1.jpg
Examine the bridge of your bass to determine the tool you will need to adjust the saddle positions. Obtain the necessary tool, which can be a small flat-blade screwdriver, small Phillips screwdriver or an allen wrench.
Plug your bass into an electronic tuner.
Tune each string on your bass. Recheck and adjust the tuning of each string after tuning all of the strings. Changing the tension on each string will affect the tuning of the other strings.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 4Bullet1.jpg Continue tuning each of the strings until they are all in tune simultaneously.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 4Bullet2.jpg
Play the harmonic of the G-string at the 12th fret. Lightly touch your finger on the string directly over the 12th fret.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 5Bullet1.jpg Verify on the tuner that the string is tuned exactly to G.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 5Bullet2.jpg
Fret the G-string at the 12th fret and play the note. Fret the string directly behind the fret.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 6Bullet1.jpg Fret the string with the same pressure that you would ordinarily use while playing. Resist the temptation to press more firmly on the string.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 6Bullet2.jpg Note the tuning on the electronic tuner. If this note is sharp (above the tone of the harmonic), then the string length from the nut to the bridge needs to be increased. If the fretted note is flat (below the tone of the harmonic), then the string length from the nut to the bridge needs to be decreased.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 6Bullet3.jpg
Adjust the bridge saddle to correct the bass string intonation. If the string length needs to be increased, turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw clockwise. If the string length needs to be decreased, turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw counterclockwise.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 7Bullet1.jpg Determine how much to change the saddle adjustment based on how far out of tune the fretted note was.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 7Bullet2.jpg
Repeat the process. Play the harmonic to verify that the string is still in tune after adjusting the bridge saddle location.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 8Bullet1.jpg Fret the string at the 12th fret and play the note. Observe whether this note is in tune, sharp or flat.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 8Bullet2.jpg Repeat the process until the note played with the string fingered at the 12th fret is the same and in tune with the harmonic played at the 12th fret.Adjust Intonation on Bass Step 5Bullet2.jpg
Repeat the process for each of the other strings.
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