A bass instrument ( / b eɪ s / ) is a musical instrument that produces tones in the low-pitched range C 2 –C 4 . Basses belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles. Since producing low pitches usually requires a long air column or string, the string and wind bass instruments are usually the largest instruments in their families or instrument classes.
17-406: A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist ) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or trombone . Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments. Since the 1960s,
34-544: A finger or a plectrum . Most plucked string instruments belong to the lute family (such as guitar , bass guitar , mandolin , banjo , balalaika , sitar , pipa , etc.), which generally consist of a resonating body, and a neck ; the strings run along the neck and can be stopped at different pitches. The zither family (including the Qanún/kanun , autoharp , kantele , gusli , kannel , kankles , kokles , koto , guqin , gu zheng and many others) does not have
51-455: A "bass guitar". Although being bowed instruments, they can be played pizzicato , which is a standard double bass technique in jazz, blues and rockabilly. Mozart called the cello the most common bass instrument in his time, and in chamber music of the late eighteenth century, the cello was specified more often as the bass instrument ( Basso ) than the double bass. A bass singer has the lowest vocal range of all voice types , typically
68-539: A keyboard alternative to the bass guitar or double bass (e.g. the Fender Rhodes piano bass in the 1960s or 13-note MIDI keyboard controllers in the 2000s). This instrument peaked in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, being particularly associated with the synth pop genre. Bass pedalboard , a keyboard operated by feet found at the base of the console of most pipe organs , pedal pianos , theatre organs , and electric organs . Washtub bass ,
85-419: A neck, and the strings are stretched across the soundboard. In the harp family (including the lyre ), the strings are perpendicular to the soundboard and do not run across it. The harpsichord does not fit any of these categories but is also a plucked string instrument, as its strings are struck with a plectrum when the keys are depressed. Bowed string instruments, such as the violin , can also be plucked in
102-423: A range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C (i.e., E 2 –E 4 ). In SATB four-part choral singing , the letter B stands for bass , which is the lowest of the four vocal sections. The basso profondo is a subtype of the bass voice type able to sing low notes, extending to C 2 and possibly lower. A bass horn , such as a tuba , serpent , and sousaphone from
119-496: A simple folk instrument. Also known as a " gutbucket ", it is generally believed to have derived from the African ground bow . Plucked string instrument Plucked string instruments are a subcategory of string instruments that are played by plucking the strings . Plucking is a way of pulling and releasing the string in such a way as to give it an impulse that causes the string to vibrate. Plucking can be done with either
136-456: A tuba. In some jazz groups and jam bands , the basslines are played by a Hammond organ player, who uses the bass pedal keyboard or the lower manual for the low notes. Keyboard driven bass also occurs occasionally in rock bands, such as the Doors and Atomic Rooster . Electric bassists play the bass guitar. In most rock, pop, metal and country genres, the bass line outlines the harmony of
153-430: Is that some instruments fall into more than one category. The cello is considered a tenor instrument in some orchestral settings, but in a string quartet it is the bass instrument. A musician playing one of these instruments is often known as a bassist . Other more specific terms such as 'bass guitarist', 'double bassist', 'bass player', may also be used. Plucked string instruments classified as basses include
170-427: The electric bass guitar , the acoustic bass guitar , folk instruments like contrabass guitar , guitarrón mexicano , tololoche , bass banjo or bass balalaika . The electric bass guitar is usually the instrument referred to as a "bass" in pop and rock music . The electric bass guitar, while invented in the 1930s by Paul Tutmarc , was first mass-produced by Leo Fender in 1951 and quickly replaced
187-635: The associations of different bass instruments with certain genres, there are exceptions. Some new rock bands and bassist used a double bass, such as Lee Rocker of Stray Cats , Barenaked Ladies and Tiger Army . Larry Graham , Bernard Edwards, Mick Hogan, Andy Fraser, and Mel Schacher used an electric bass guitar. Some funk, R&B and jazz, fusion groups use synth bass or keyboard bass rather than electric bass. Bootsy Collins, Stevie Wonder, Kashif and Kevin McCord(One Way) used synth bass. Some Dixieland bands use double bass or electric bass instead of
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#1732798176050204-481: The electric bass has been the standard bass instrument for funk , R&B , soul , rock , reggae , jazz fusion , heavy metal , country and pop . The double bass is the standard bass instrument for classical music , bluegrass , rockabilly , and most genres of jazz . Low brass instruments such as the tuba or sousaphone are the standard bass instrument in Dixieland and New Orleans-style jazz bands. Despite
221-455: The more unwieldy double bass among non-classical musicians. Bowed string instruments , include the double bass , the cello and the violone . The double bass is usually the instrument referred to as a "bass" in European classical music and jazz , sometimes called a "string bass" to differentiate it from a "brass bass" or "bass horn", or an "upright bass" to differentiate it from
238-566: The music being performed, while simultaneously indicating the rhythmic pulse. In addition, there are many different standard bass line types for different genres and types of song (e.g. blues ballad, fast swing, etc.). Bass lines often emphasize the root note, with a secondary role for the third, and fifth of each chord being used in a given song. In addition, pedal tones (repeated or sustained single notes), ostinatos , and bass riffs are also used as bass lines. While most electric bass players rarely play chords (three or more notes all sounded at
255-506: The same time), chords are used in some styles, especially funk , R&B , soul music, jazz , Latin and heavy metal music . See the List of contemporary classical double bass players . See the List of jazz bassists , which includes both double bass and electric bass players. See the List of double bassists in popular music , which includes blues, folk, country, etc. Bass (instrument) A difficulty in categorizing instruments
272-495: The technique known as pizzicato ; however, as they are usually played with a bow , they are not included in this category. Struck string instruments (such as the piano ) can be similarly plucked as an extended technique . Plucked string instruments are not a category in the Sachs-Hornbostel classification, aside from 335 and 336 , as some of them are simple chordophones and others are composite (depending on whether
289-402: The wind family and low-tuned versions of specific types of brass and woodwind instruments, such as bassoon , bass clarinet , bass trombone , and bass saxophone , the last of which was the first saxophone invented by Adolphe Sax . The serpent was invented around the end of the 15th century, with lower instruments, such as the bass-tuba appearing over subsequent centuries. Keyboard bass ,
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