| This is a musical instrument of the string family. At the | | | | ____ |
| same time, it belongs to the guitar family, with a larger | | | | BASSES & GUITARS |
| body and longer neck allowing longer musical distance | | | | Though from the family of guitars, a bass guitar has |
| or scale length. It's fingered or picked to vibrate its | | | | striking differences from the guitar. The simplest and |
| strings and therefore produce sound. This instrument is | | | | basic difference is the pitch range of the instruments. |
| usually used with 4 strings, tuned one octave lower | | | | Bass guitar plays notes an octave lower than a guitar. |
| than the guitar | | | | Another unique difference is in the quality of sound |
| The bass guitar has been used by the music world for | | | | produced by a bass. A bass guitar has a unique way |
| centuries. The 15th century "Viola da Gamba" was | | | | of producing sound if played with the fingers or |
| among the earliest known bass instrument. It was over | | | | plucked. If played with the fingers using 2, 3 or 4 |
| 8 feet tall, with 6 to 7 strings, tuned similar to the | | | | fingers, the bass guitar can create different rhythms |
| present day double bass. With a fretted neck, a bow | | | | and produce tonal differences that wouldn't be possible |
| was used to play it. This overall look of "Viola de | | | | if the instrument is played with a pick. |
| Gamba" has not changed in the next centuries. The | | | | Another difference is the role the instrument plays in a |
| size, shape, tone, parts, and woods were much the | | | | musical group. Although the bass is very critical in the |
| same although there were several variations in the | | | | band, it normally would play a secondary role. Though |
| number of strings. | | | | the bass guitar could have solo acts and could play |
| ____ | | | | much like that of a guitar, traditionally (what is usually |
| THE EVOLUTION | | | | expected by people), a guitar is more visible or is more |
| The succeeding centuries would use strings ranging | | | | in the frontline or spotlight. |
| from 3 to 7. Throughout Europe, 3 and 4 string basses | | | | Though normally playing secondary roles, these roles |
| were used for 300 years. Germany and Austria used | | | | played by the bass guitar varies depending on the |
| 4 to 5 strings until the 19th century while Italy, France | | | | type of music. The degree of prominence may also |
| and England used mainly the 3-string configuration until | | | | differ depending on the genre. The bass guitar is |
| the 1870's. The next decades saw the dominance of | | | | normally used to provide the low-pitched bass lines in |
| the 4-string bass. | | | | pop music and jazz. It is used as a solo instrument in |
| Starting from the 19th century, drastic changes were | | | | jazz, fusion, Latin, and funk styles. Rock and Roll, |
| introduced initiated by Paul Tutmarc in the 1930's. He | | | | heavy metal, punk, reggae, and soul also use bass |
| designed a bass that was very similar to a guitar, | | | | guitar as a solo instrument. |
| hand-held and carried and can be played horizontally. | | | | The bass guitar plays varied roles for orchestral |
| This concept was followed in the 1950s and 1960s by | | | | settings. Traditionally, orchestral settings employ the |
| Leo Fender. The Leo Fender bass became the | | | | double bass guitar but 20th century composers have |
| master model for the mass produced bass guitar. In | | | | started to use the electric bass |
| 1971, the boutique or high end electric bass was | | | | ____ |
| introduced. In the 1979 new products were born such | | | | FAMOUS BASSISTS |
| as the headless bass-the tuning machines are in the | | | | Some of the famous bassists are Jimmy Blanton and |
| bridge. In the 1980's other innovations using new | | | | Charles Mingus. Jimmy Blanton was a virtuoso bassist |
| materials such as graphite were marketed. In 1987, the | | | | playing the bass like a horn producing melodic lines. He |
| Ashbory bass was launched-ultra small body, 100% | | | | is regarded as the first true master of the jazz bass. |
| portable/light weight, nylon strings with an unexpected | | | | Charles Mingus was an American jazz credited with |
| big bottomed sound. | | | | hot and soul feel jazz music. Other well-known bass |
| ____ | | | | players are Stefan Lessard, Victor Wooten, Flea and |
| MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION | | | | James Jamerson. Stefan Kahil Lessard is the bassist |
| The usual material used for basses is wood (most | | | | for the Dave Matthews Band. Victor Wooten is |
| common is alder for the body, or exotic woods such | | | | regarded as the most influential bassist and is a |
| as bubinga, wenge, ovangkol, ebony or goncalo alves; | | | | member of the Bela Fleck & the Flectones, a |
| maple or ash for the neck or graphite and carbon fiber | | | | Grammy-awarded group |
| for lightweight necks; and rosewood for the fretboard). | | | | Flea or Michael Perter Balzary was born in Melbourne |
| Apart from aesthetic reasons, careful selection of | | | | Australia, migrated to the U.S. and is a member of the |
| material must be done because the material used has | | | | famous L.A. band, Red Hot Chili Peppers. James |
| a significant effect on the timbre of the bass guitar. For | | | | Jamerson is an influential bassist from the band, |
| the final finish, lacquer, wax and oil is used. With the | | | | Motown |
| advent of artificial materials such as luthite, unique | | | | ____ |
| production methods such as die-casting can be | | | | ABOUT THE TECHNIQUES |
| employed to allow manufacture of complex body | | | | Various methods are used in playing the bass. The |
| shapes that would in turn allow convenience in holding | | | | "slap and pop" method popularized in the 1960s till |
| the instrument. | | | | 1970s by Larry Graham of the Sly and Family Stone is |
| Most bass guitars have solid bodies but can also have | | | | produced by thumping a string with the thumb and |
| hollow chambers for increased resonance or to lessen | | | | snapping the strings with the index or middle fingers. |
| the weight of the instrument. But caution must be | | | | Such technique produces percussive sounds. This |
| noted as hollow bodies change the tone and | | | | technique was further improved by Stanley Clarke and |
| resonance of the bass guitar. For the strings, all-metal | | | | Louis Johnson and is used by other bassist in other |
| (roundwound or flatwound) with coverings of either | | | | genres such as rock bassists Flea, JJ Burnel and Les |
| tapewound or plastic coatings, and non-metal strings | | | | Claypool; jazz-fusion bassist Victor Wooten. Later on |
| made of nylon are used. | | | | Wooten developed other methods. |