How do you explain what a bass is to someone?

[Papa Dangerous]

Bass is the lower register of the audio frequencies that we can hear as humans.

Below 60Hz is sub-bass.
About 20hz is the lowest the human ear can detect... Any really in and below that area is more likely to be felt then heard.
32-512Hz is about the range a bass player would be playing.
512-2048-8192Hz is around the area of human speech.
8192-16384Hz - Sibilance, bells, cymbals
20,000Hz is about the highest the human ear can detect but most people will fall below this.

So next time someone asks what bass is... simple answer: "32-512Hz"

 

[Jazz Ad]

If a person doesn't know what a bass is, they're not likely to associate Hertz with anything but car rental.

 

[FlyingFinn]

You can just simply say its a kind of guitar that's easier to play

Anything is easy if you keep the bar low enough.

I'm the guy doing the boom boom in the back that makes you wanna dance.

+1 my favorite

 

[Kmonk]

Never had anyone ask. I think most people know what it is.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Bass players do it deeper.

 

[Bassmanmike1]

I just go "ba-doom ba-doom ba-doom" and the light bulb turns on.

 

[Technicality]

I have a theory that people who don't understand what the bass does are just attributing the sound of both the bass and guitar to the guitar. They hear this amazing sound that both produce together and think wow that guitar sounds great!

An extreme example would be RHCP's Californication. If you can find a non musician who knows the bass is playing half the riff I'd be very surprised, as it sounds a lot like one instrument.

I once got asked what the bass actually does by someone, and then later when they heard me playing the slap line to "word up" they said I sounded like Marcus Miller. My mind was boggled that someone knew who of him and what he sounded like, but still thought the bass guitar didn't really do anything.

 

[hrodbert696]

If I'm being serious, it's a big member of the guitar family that plays low notes.

If I'm not, it's the part that goes boom boom badoom boom boom.

 

[10cc]

Anything is easy if you keep the bar low enough.



+1 my favorite

What if you limbo?

 

[Ender_rpm]

I call it The Booty Remote.

 

[mcnach]

Like a guitar only without the self esteem issues.

 

[xUptheIronsx]

Never had anyone ask. I think most people know what it is.

I am in this camp as well. I have never played a gig where the general audience members I interacted with did not know the difference

Outside of gigs, or for non-musical people I usually reference "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen, and then explain that it is a guitar like instrument that plays an octave lower.

Also, many times for non-musicians, I will reference the double bass first, (since for the most part they have at least seen a symphony in some situation) and then explain that the electric bass grew out of those and generally plays the same role

 

[pklima]

If I'm not, it's the part that goes boom boom badoom boom boom.

Yup. As opposed to the part which just goes boom boom boom boom, cause that's the kick drum. The badoom is how you can tell a bass from a kick.

 

[shadowtippy]

It is like a guitar, only better.

 

[FlyingFinn]

What if you limbo?

In that case, you could pat yourself on back, pour champagne all over yourself and tell everyone how easy it is to limbo, despite your bar being low. If you are a real badass, you could even start a site called talklimbo.com, to find like-minded people.

 

[dbase]

 

[hrodbert696]

Yup. As opposed to the part which just goes boom boom boom boom, cause that's the kick drum. The badoom is how you can tell a bass from a kick.

Exactly!

 

[Joe Louvar]

Tell them its a fish.

 

[10cc]

In that case, you could pat yourself on back, pour champagne all over yourself and tell everyone how easy it is to limbo, despite your bar being low. If you are a real badass, you could even start a site called talklimbo.com, to find like-minded people.

Why do you continue to mention this low bar.

 

[Stealth Fighter]

It's a guitar that plays
way
down
here.