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