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