What is a bass?

[rtslinger]

I do not know the true meaning, but one thing I do know those buggers can multiply pretty quickly.

 

[Gaolee]

I'll submit pretending to play a bass on a guitar.

I pretend to play bass on bass.

 

[lz4005]

Trying to define a bass is like trying to define a sandwich.

At first it seems easy, two pieces of bread with food in between.
Then someone asks about open face sandwiches. They have to count even though there's only one piece of bread.
What about Subway? That's one piece of bread with a slit.
If that counts, what about hot dogs? One piece of bread with a slit and meat inside.
And open face counts, then wouldn't a pizza be a sandwich? It's food on a piece of bread.
And on and on.

In the end I'd rather play music on a something with strings and then eat something that tastes good.
Regardless of what they're called.

 

[Pumpkin]

I enjoy watching people realize how absurdly complicated something as seemingly simple as a "definition" can get, and in short order. This thread is fun.

Here's my stab- using pitch, either high or low, as the exclusive defining feature of a "bass" isn't going to advance anywhere. A grand piano can play an A0, certainly low enough to be in the "bass" range of this discussion, but we don't call it a bass. As previously mentioned, a piccolo bass is itched equivalently to a guitar, but we still call it a bass. If we really want to define a bass we would be best served by breaking it down into different facets of the instrument- physical features, tuning and range, and role. Physical features- body, neck, bridge, strings. Tuning and range- tuned in fourths with a low note between A0 and A2. Role- Usually provides the lowest pitch in an arrangement, with a focus of accenting both the rhthym and melody of the piece.

Well, it was worth a shot anyway.

 

[lz4005]

I enjoy watching people realize how absurdly complicated something as seemingly simple as a "definition" can get, and in short order. This thread is fun.

Here's my stab- using pitch, either high or low, as the exclusive defining feature of a "bass" isn't going to advance anywhere. A grand piano can play an A0, certainly low enough to be in the "bass" range of this discussion, but we don't call it a bass. As previously mentioned, a piccolo bass is itched equivalently to a guitar, but we still call it a bass. If we really want to define a bass we would be best served by breaking it down into different facets of the instrument- physical features, tuning and range, and role. Physical features- body, neck, bridge, strings. Tuning and range- tuned in fourths with a low note between A0 and A2. Role- Usually provides the lowest pitch in an arrangement, with a focus of accenting both the rhthym and melody of the piece.

Well, it was worth a shot anyway.

Just wait until the 5ths tuning folks get here.

 

[Pumpkin]

Just wait until the 5ths tuning folks get here.

I thought that was going to happen, but even among our ranks we acknowledge anything beyond 4ths as alternate tuning.

 

[Mustang Surly]

What's a bass?

It's that thing that goes "thump" in the night.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

When you play your brother's acoustic guitar's lower four strings, you are still playing an acoustic guitar. But you are playing the bass strings of the guitar. That's same for any instrument.

If you and your brother both play acoustic guitars, but you are playing the bass part, while he is playing the high notes, then you both are playing acoustic guitars, but you are playing the bass part.

 

[Honch]

So what's the best metal för bass? This:

 

[lz4005]

I thought that was going to happen, but even among our ranks we acknowledge anything beyond 4ths as alternate tuning.

Right. And in doing that we acknowledge that a tuning doesn't define an instrument.

Defining things is a path to madness.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Oh, goodie! Another troll bait thread.
"Bass" is entirely about the role an instrument plays in a musical work, not about the instrument itself. Some instruments serve that role better than others in any given context so I recommend, again, reading Victor Wooten's The Music Lesson.

 

[jamro217]

Trying to define a bass is like trying to define a sandwich.

At first it seems easy, two pieces of bread with food in between.
Then someone asks about open face sandwiches. They have to count even though there's only one piece of bread.
What about Subway? That's one piece of bread with a slit.
If that counts, what about hot dogs? One piece of bread with a slit and meat inside.
And open face counts, then wouldn't a pizza be a sandwich? It's food on a piece of bread.
And on and on.

In the end I'd rather play music on a something with strings and then eat something that tastes good.
Regardless of what they're called.

What's the best sangwich for metal?

 

[stringtapper]

The answer is that bass is a voice. "Voice" here meaning a functional melodic line within a harmonic texture, i.e. the bass voice in a 4-part harmony.

So any instrument can conceivably function in the role of a bass voice if the other voices/instruments are sounding sufficiently higher than it.

 

[lz4005]

What's the best sangwich for metal?

Metallica's famous Bologna on Hand.

Urban Dictionary: loser's lunch

 

[steelbed45]

There's families of instruments, and then there's orchestration. To use one set of rules, (orchestration,) to define the overall family runs up against the grain.

A sopranino clarinet is a clarinet. A contrabass clarinet is a clarinet. There are no rules that state a clarinet can only play in a certain register to be recognized as a clarinet...and that goes for any family of instruments.

Why single out basses in this way?

 

[TolerancEJ]

This is also a bass

 

[Killed_by_Death]

RE: bass & guitar being completely different,

some of the frequencies/notes overlap

 

[Khronic]

"What is a Bass?"
A stringed percussion instrument.

 

[mattj1stc]

Although this probably won't be a popular answer, bass is really a role in the musical arrangement that covers the lower frequencies while also providing a reinforcement of the rhythm. Depending on musical genre and instrumentation, bass could be a bass guitar, an upright bass, a bass synth, the left hand of the keyboard, a tuba, etc. If you're low and driving things forward, you're bass.

 

[madbass6]

Another day, another "why P-bass" thread got me thinking about the definition of "bass". When I'm at my brother's house and fingering the four low stringsFirst on his acoustic guitar, I'm playing bass but I'm not playing a bass. That's pretty clear.

@el_Bajo_Verde posted a very helpful picture in the other thread of an ANSI standard bass and then another picture of one that pushes the boundaries. I'm not sure I'd recognize the Conklin as a bass without hearing it. I'm not even sure I could play it but it is beautiful in its own way.

View attachment 1069707

So the question stands. Where do we draw the line. I'm going with string diameter. My bandmate gave me a five-pack of Ernie's that are way thinner than anything I would consider bass strings. The pack languishes in a bag somewhere. I would think that they would sound like the unheralded baritone guitar. I dunno. Perhaps this is all a bunch of orange colored root veggies. You gotta have at least on string greater than .090" and none less than .035"

Ok.. Very simple, This is Bass!
4 strings tuned from (top to bottom)
1.E
2.A
3.D
4.G

ohh, sorry let me clarify its actually a 1971 all original Fender P Bass!! With its well earned mojo!