Bass guitar: an overview of the main types, device, history of the instrument

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

As paradoxical and strange as it may sound, the bass guitar is not actually a guitar. Due to the similarity in appearance, the real ancestor of the modern classical guitar, like all other modern guitars, is the lute. This is a plucked stringed instrument that is horizontal when played. The bass guitar is a kind of rebirth of the double bass. Like the cello and viola, it has its origins in the viola. The instrument must be held vertically while playing.

The origins of the instrument

Further changes to the lower range instruments were based on the viola family. Viola de gambo, who plays in the lower register, could solo, was distinguished by large dimensions and five or six strings. Viol double basses were actively used already in the 15th century to amplify the octave. They helped make the string band sound like organ music. double bassThe viola is considered the forerunner of the double bass, which lacked the fifth string, resulting in a classic bass tuning.

Bass flourish

Fast forward to the second half of the 20th century: rock and roll was born, and after it the era of punk. Youth protest in its prime. Eric Clapton had already come up with his famous overdriven guitar sound. Every guitarist becomes a hero and a legend. Everyone wants to be a guitarist.

"In our time, it was generally accepted that the bass player is an inconspicuous fat guy who stands in the farthest corner of the stage," Paul McCartney once said. Every musician strives for self-realization. It can be argued with a high degree of probability that the bass guitar has received such a rapid development thanks to complete laymen who had a sense of their own dignity, and a few professionals who really became interested in this instrument. The emergence of new styles influenced the development of acoustic bass guitars. Other bass functionality was dictated by the structure of the composition. People didn't want to play "right".

Professionalism in every move

Potentially promising piano player Clifford Lee Burton fell in love with the acoustic bass and practiced it for six hours every day. Many years later, only Rob Trujille could play his ORION live.

Les Claypool has often admitted that he only started playing bass out of boredom, but was able to achieve phenomenal technique without understanding music theory.

SteveHarris was not in the shadow of the group at all, because he was the one who created it. He had no musical background and only chose the bass because it was "big, masculine and very loud."

Peter B altes also wanted to play guitar, but was only offered bass.

One of the main composers of ACCEPT played to the point that he became the best bassist in Germany.

It is difficult to determine for certain who introduced a certain game technique. Most likely, Jaco Pastorius can be blamed for everything. He was mentally ill, he didn't give a damn about the "rhythmic foundation" or the "foundation of the composition." He wanted to create multifaceted solo pieces, actively introduced guitar chips. Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, for example, still use his work and techniques. He once stated: "I am the best bassist in the world, and if you want to say otherwise, then try to play better than me."

Eclipse bass guitar

The usual variety of music continued, but people began to get addicted to glam. Everything is lost! A huge number of "ksyusha, plush skirts" from the colorful American coasts tore the air, and the bass was sent to its primary position, the harmonic lining. However, against this colorful background, the world is introduced to Billy Sheehan, who, even within the framework of such a direction, was able to raise bass capabilities to a whole new level.

At the same time, jazz and fusion are rapidly developing. Steward Hemm and John Patitucci start to shine. They became the "kings" of the six-string bass, playing very hard. Extending the range allows tapping polyphonic etudes by introducing bass and melodic lines at the same time in different parts of the fretboard.

New round of development

A solo album from bassists appears, where with the help of a bass guitar full-fledged polysyllabic melodic compositions are created. The crazy “true black death metal” band is reminiscent of Bach in his sound, who at one time tried to structure everything. Jazz techniques used on bass in heavy rock, technically strong solo compositions on fretless, built on standard harmony, make it possible to believe that the performing, and most importantly, composing level of "stupid" metal bassists can be safely compared with members of outstanding symphony orchestras. Such creators can be safely attributed to Stephen DiGiorgio, Johnny Miyang, Tony Choya.

Returning to its origins, it is obvious that the 5-6 string bass is a long forgotten past. This is just a new round of development.

"Classic" relative

A similar situation, in parallel, can be observed in classical music, especially in the chamber direction. The unsurpassed double bass instrument does not stand in one place, it develops steadily and boldly, expanding the boundaries of the familiar. You can meet a large number of real virtuoso double bassists, modern creators and recognized masters, like Sergei Koussevitzky. On this instrument, he performs one of the most difficult pieces for double bass. Also, do not forget about Henri Tesquier. These performers easily succeededto achieve the desired sharpness and accuracy in intonations in the low-frequency ranges, which is extremely important for the correct perception by the listener.

Why not master the bass?

Many people have a question: “How to play the bass guitar?” The instrument is very eccentric, although this can be said about any musical instrument. Bass tuning is referred to as the rhythm section, and in rock music it is one of the main components: a powerful, strong wall, which is created by bass and drums, allows you to create a reliable basis for vocal and guitar parts. If you want to become part of this direction and pick up such a guitar, then you will definitely become a professional musician.

Need to find your sound

There are a large number of bass guitar settings and ways to play this musical instrument. How you play it is entirely up to you. Your musical preferences can be fully revealed thanks to the bass guitar.

For example, some musicians use finger technique, others work very well with a pick. It is worth noting that there is a technique for obtaining a sound, like a slap, from English this word can be translated as a slap. Indeed, while playing, the musician with plucked movements, but more with unique slaps, gets rather difficult, abrupt sounds.

The sound that is obtained while playing with a pick or fingers is significantly different from each other. Exactlytherefore, while mastering the instrument, you yourself must decide: which method is closer to you.

Each style of bass guitar music requires a lot of attention. The complexity of the game can depend significantly on this.

For example, in the funk genre, the bass guitar is considered a solo instrument. This style features complex parts that are more like a guitar solo.

For punk rock, the bass guitar is considered a mere support for drums, which creates a very powerful sound wave.

Due to the fact that the more extreme styles of metal have inherited a lot from punk, the role of the instrument in this direction is the same.

Hardrock music is distinguished by the presence of a large number of brilliant bassists, which in many ways relate to the jazz school. However, this did not stop them from playing in an extreme and progressive musical direction.

Perseverance and hard work

For beginners, the bass guitar can be a little tricky. If you decide to start a career as a musician and want to learn how to play this instrument, you need to immediately decide on the style of music that you will perform. It is he who affects the style of your playing, the sound settings, the way you will extract the sound. The style of music you prefer will affect the choice of bass model.

Different devices may have a softer or deeper, harsher or glassy sound. The arrangement of pickups, their number also affects the tuning of the bass guitar. Much depends on the material from whichtool is made. The best bass guitars are made from softwood, alder, ash, American linden. When choosing a tool, it is always better to rely on the feedback of people who already have experience. The ideal situation would be if you have a familiar musician who will tell you the right solution.

The classic tuning of a bass guitar is the same tuning as for 4-string six-string guitars, but one octave lower:

1. G in the big octave.
2. D in a large octave.
3. A in a counteroctave.
4. E in counteroctave.

There are also four-string, five-string and even eight-string models. This is the kind of instrument that requires the musician to have a unique mindset. Don't think of the bass guitar as something easy and simple. To possess it professionally, you need a lot of strength, perseverance and a bit of talent. Your bass playing is bound to get admiring reviews if you're serious about improving your skills and abilities.