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Is bass mostly a percussion instrument?

#61
Richard Lindsey said:
I see what you're saying, but in fact, in normal usage, neither instrument is generally considered that. Both are typically considered instruments of the string family, in which sound is produced by strings being set into motion (this includes both bowed and plucked strings).

The basic Western classification is strings, wind instruments (including not only woodwinds but also brass), and percussion. Of course this system is far from perfect. Where to put keyboards, for example, is an issue, since they have strings but make use of hammers to strike those strings and set them in motion. There are other omissions as well. (How about those hammered dulcimers?)

But this is basically what we're working with, and I think it's fair to say that it's something like a common understanding. If you have a choice between strings, winds, percussion, and (maybe) keyboards, you pretty much have to put the bass guitar in strings, not percussion.

There are other classification systems as well, of course. All of them, like this one, somewhat arbitrary.
Click to expand...

I've been perusing this thread and waiting for someone to say this.

Richard is absolutely correct. I have only ever seen the arguement of wheather an instrument is stringed vs. percussion with regard to the piano. Everyone knows that this instrument has strings that vibrate, but only do so because they are struck. On the other hand, this arguement was never made for the harpsichord since it's strings are plucked even though the harpsichord is very similar to the piano.

Instruments which are classified as percussion (not the bass) can also generate pitch, such as the xylophone, the typmani, and infact standard drum heads can be tuned to an actual pitch (if you have enough toms you can actually play a tune on them).

As Richard has demonstrated, the bass is a stringed instrument based on the traditional definition. However, there have been bassists (i.e. Cliff Burton) who are known for literally striking the strings and slamming them against the pickups. In the effort of trying to keep an open mind, I would say that this is one instance where the bass could be considered a percussion instrument, but not in its traditional role.
 
#62
No not at all. It's a string instrument, or an electric string instrument if you want to be precise.

Granted the bass does bridge the the melody and percussion together but since when has an instruments role in the music dictated it's instrument family? Never. It's based purely on construction. By your logic a double bass could be a string instrument or percussion depending on who's playing it and that just doesn't make any sense. If you go deep enough you could argue that almost every instrument besides the theremin has percussive elements to it but unless that percussion not only creates the sound and percussion itself is the purpose of the instrument then I don't believe the instrument belongs in that family.
 
#69
hdracer said:
Percussion ? It could be.

4920595018_de3f4c2b8d_z.jpg


But I would say more of a rhythm.

From Wiki:
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement, shaken, rubbed, scraped, or by any other action which sets the object into vibration. The term usually applies to an object used in a rhythmic context or with musical intent.

The word "percussion" has evolved from Latin terms: "percussio" (which translates as "to beat, strike" in the musical sense, rather than the violent action), and "percussus" (which is a noun meaning "a beating"). As a noun in contemporary English it is described in Wiktionary as "the collision of two bodies to produce a sound". The usage of the term is not unique to music but has application in medicine and weaponry, as in percussion cap, but all known and common uses of the word, "percussion", appear to share a similar lineage beginning with the original Latin: "percussus". In a musical context then, the term "percussion instruments" may have been coined originally to describe a family of instruments including drums, rattles, metal plates, or wooden blocks which musicians would beat or strike (as in a collision) to produce sound.
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it can be if your slappping or just litely tapping over your pickups witch I do all the tmie, so yeah it can be. however it also can be leed and there for not procussive. its all how you work the instrument. you have to work with a person to get anything done in the work place, its the same with the instrument, do tapping or slapping? yes then its a procussive instrument. but if you play leed and your strumming or plucking then no its not a procussive instrument. hope this helps.
 
#70
A bass that acts like a second drummer is redundant and not needed. Listen to a song with the bass cut completely. It's missing something. It sounds like a fight between drums and guitars and vocals for the same sonic "space"

The bass should be used to "expand" that space. I think too many people get caught up in the purpose of the bass as a member of the rhythm section and forget its most fundamental purpose: to help create a "fuller" sound in the scope of a band or ensemble environment. You don't treat cellos or bassoons as percussion instruments, though they may have steccato ostinatos to mimic such, it's usually more to set the mood on a per-song basis than a rule or guideline. The bass is your Cello or Bassoon in the context of your modern smaller band. It's a polyphonic (though usually played monophonically) stringed instrument brought in to balance out the sound.
 
#71
Well, I don't consider myself a percussive player. Part of the rhythm section, of course. But, I think I'm on the side of a string instrument that can be played percussively.

There are drummers who do a very good job at plodding along and do their job, and then there can be drummer or are VERY melodic to the point that they appear to be lead instrument such as guitar or keys. Some people like that and in some cases, a band would think that the drummer is overplaying.

But, certainly he's a percussive instrument player.

Having said that, I am currently working on my Mark King hits, so...I dunno, maybe I really want to be a drummer.
:hmm:
 
#72
Didn't get through the whole thread but to me it's semantics. The rhythm role of a group can be filled by any instrument. Typically a drummer, bassist, and sometimes a guitar. But I've heard singers, keys, brass all keep rhythm.

So I wouldn't say a bass is in the percussion family any more than a bass is in the brass family or woodwind a for that matter.

I would say the bass excels at filling the rhythm role in a group, as does a drummer.

So I guess I agree with the OP's concept, but not his choice of words.

/meh I'm weird like that
 
#73
I think you're confusing percussion with rhythm... Bass is definitely a rhythmic instrument. Most drums are rhythmic, but not all percussion is such. What would make bass a percussion instrument would be when slapping (hammering it), tapping, etc...
 
#77
I explain this way to guitards and regular people...guitar players go, BLANG,2,3,4,BLUNG,2,3,4,BLANG,2,3,4,BLUNG,2,3,4.

I carry you from blang to blung with a mix of percussive/melodic passing tones.

So shut up, fix your hair, go blang blung and don't try to tell me how to play the bass.
 

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