IMPORTANT: Prior knowledge of doing harmonics is needed for this lesson.

Yes you can play a D major chord without "fretting" a note as long as you do it the way I describe. I have mainly used this with a 4 string bass but should work just as well on a 5 or 6 string bass. Ok, so you wanna know how, eh? I don't think you believe me. Well, listen up...

1st drop your low E string down to D (also known as drop D tuning). Next what you are going to do is a series of harmonics. (Notice that with harmonics, at least from my perspective, you are not fully "fretting" each note, but rather lightly touching the string, which is why this little experiment works). The 1st harmonic you will play is on the 19th fret of the G string which is a D harmonic. Next harmonic is the 16th fret of the D string which is an F# sharp harmonic. Your final harmonic you will hit is the double dot or 12th fret of the A string which is obviously an A harmonic. It is advised you do the harmonics in this order. Practice hitting those harmonics and making sure each one rings out fully. After you got that down the last step in the obvious...pound that low D. =) Enjoy.