bass

bass, electrically amplified stringed musical instrument that has typically four to six heavy strings and is the lowest pitched type of guitar. The bass is further distinguished by its relatively long neck and scale length (the distance between the nut and the bridge); the latter ranges from 34 to 37 inches (86.4 to 93.9 cm) or, on short-scale instruments, from 30 to 32 inches (76.2 to 81.3 cm). The bass generally is played with the fingers or with a pick. In various musical genres, the bass serves largely as a foundation instrument, providing a rhythmic and harmonic framework that supports and elevates the overlaying music.

Tuning, strings, and sound production

Standard tuning on a four-string bass, from lowest pitch to highest, is E, A, D, G—an octave below the four lowest-pitch strings of a guitar. Five-string basses may include a lower string, typically tuned to B, or a higher string, tuned to C; the tonal range is expanded from B through C on a six-string bass. The tuning on a bass can vary, however, depending on factors such as style of playing or desired sound.

Likewise, the strings on a bass can differ from one instrument to the next, again depending on player preference. Typically, bass strings are either flatwound or roundwound, the difference being in the construction of the so-called wrap wire, usually made of steel or nickel, which is wound around an inner core wire of steel. Flatwound strings feature a wrap wire with a flat outer surface, which provides a smooth feel and facilitates fast movement along the strings. Roundwound strings retain the ridges of the wrap wire as it goes around the core wire, resulting in greater friction beneath the fingers. Flatwound strings are associated with a smooth, warm sound, whereas roundwound strings generally produce a brighter sound.

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The bass produces sound when its strings vibrate over one or more transducers, or pickups, which convert the movement of the string into electrical energy. The electrical signal is transmitted via a cable connected to an amplifier, which increases the magnitude of the signal, allowing the bass to be heard across a range of volumes. The tone of a bass can be altered by the type, position, and function of the bass pickups installed in the body of the instrument. Many basses have dials on the body that enable musicians to adjust the balance between pickups, which alters the tone and volume of low, mid, and treble frequencies. Bass tone and volume can be further shaped by the use of one or more effects pedals, a device, often controlled via a foot switch, that manipulates audio signals; an effects pedal typically is placed between the bass and amplifier in the signal path (connected to the bass by one cable and to an amplifier by a second cable), though this arrangement can vary based on the pedal type.

History

The idea for the electric bass was conceived in the 1930s by American musician and inventor Paul Tutmarc. Tutmarc’s instrument, known as the Model 736 Bass Fiddle, was produced and sold by Audiovox Manufacturing Company starting in 1935. The Model 736 had a solid body made of black walnut, four strings, a single pickup, and 16 frets along an ebony fingerboard. The inclusion of frets enabled more accurate intonation (accuracy of pitch) for players. The first modern bass, an instrument known as the Precision Bass, or P Bass, was produced in 1951 by what later became Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The P Bass featured an ash body, a 20-fret maple neck, a 34-inch scale length, and a single pickup. Since its invention, the P Bass has been modified in various ways, with different sizes and different pickup arrangements.

In 1953 Gibson Guitar Corporation (later Gibson Brands, Inc.) released the Electric Bass (later renamed EB-1), a short-scale (30.5-inch) bass featuring a violin-shaped solid mahogany body and an adjustable end pin, enabling the instrument to be played vertically, similar to an upright bass, as well as horizontally, like a guitar. The EB-1 was replaced by the EB-2 in 1958. In 1960 Fender introduced the Deluxe Model, later known as the Jazz Bass. The Jazz Bass was distinguished by its comparatively thin neck, which allowed for faster movement along its length—a feature considered advantageous for jazz bass playing—and broad tonal range, made possible by the use of two single-coil pickups, the tone of which could be blended by dials on the body.

In 1966 Ampeg introduced the first fret-less bass, the AUB-1. The original AUB-1 used a “mystery” pickup, which was located inside the body beneath the bridge, and gut strings; although this design attempted to reproduce the feel and experience of an upright bass on a horizontal instrument, it resulted in low signal output and sometimes unusual overtones. Ultimately, Ampeg replaced the mystery pickup with a magnetic pickup.

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Styles and genres

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The bass is common within a wide range of musical genres, including rock, jazz, funk, metal, blues, country, and pop music. Many well-known bassists achieved their distinction by ultimately developing their own “sound” or style of playing. There are numerous examples of such players, among them Flea, best known as the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who blended funk and slap bass, punk, and psychedelic rock styles; Sting, the front man of the Police and successful soloist, who was known for his melodic and dynamic playing on fret-less bass; and Aston Barrett, best known as the bassist in Bob Marley & the Wailers, known for his influential reggae rhythm and style.