What is a bass?

[Killed_by_Death]

I think the illumination & camera are from 1971 also

 

[Tony In Philly]

Is the Fender Bass VI still a bass?

Yes, because it still has E-A-D-G at the same octave.

 

[fourtet102]

RE: bass & guitar being completely different,

some of the frequencies/notes overlap

Instant headache ......

 

[PauFerro]

A bass is a stringed musical instrument that produces tones between X HZ and X Khz (you guys can fill in the actual X values as I don't trust the numbers I got -- (60 Hz up to about 1 KHz)).

 

[Stewie]

A bass is a large, but not very heavy stringed instrument, it's scientific name is bass viol. In 1951, Leo invented the Fender Bass(which some of us old guys call all guitar like bass instruments{Ones that don't have "Fender" written on the headstock are obvious frauds}). So there are really two instruments called basses: the large, hard to amplify ones BL (before Leo) era, and the easily transported, easy to amplify ones AL (after Leo) era.

 

[lfmn16]

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.

That's only ONE possible role for the bass.

I find that, in general the same people that want to define the bass also want to limit it.

Playing the high register on the bass doesn't make you a guitarist any more than playing the low register on the guitar makes you a bass player. If someone wants to play something that generally looks and sounds like a bass, and call themselves a bass player, I'm not going to argue with them. If they stray too far from the norm, I'm still not going to argue with them. If Jaco, Victor, Graham and others listened to TalkBass flat-earthers we'd all be playing root/5th, first 5 frets, half notes.

 

[Watchootognbout]

A bass line is played on a bass guitar.
End of topic.

 

[steubig]

except when it's played on upright bass or tuba.

 

[Max Blasto]

So the question stands. Where do we draw the line.

/sic/

The question does not stand. The question begs another:

Why do you draw a line at all?

Or begs another:

What line is there to be drawn?

And lastly, per the quote:

If we ask a question, where do we draw the question mark?

 

[maxmaroon]

Bass is word which symbolises a physical object that resides in our perceived reality. Our mind commands our body (open to debate) to agitate the physical object in such a way that its vibrations create sound waves; these waves are then perceived by the mind, which birthed their intent.
Sorry to say but it seems it's all in your head; on the bright side you have a fantastic imagination!

 

[Max Blasto]

except when it's played on upright bass or tuba.

Or a Bajo Quinto/Sexto or a Guitarrón. Or a Bass Clarinet, or a Bassoon, or even a Bass Flute if you have the lungs for it.

Or the foot pedals on an Organ. Or anything played by the left hand on a keyboard. Or the left hand of an Accordion?

In most string quartets, the bass is played by the Cello, or the Mandocello if you're using frets. You could say that both of these are baritone range instruments, but the fact is, no lower instrument is included in the arrangement so guess what? They are the bass.

In pipes, the drone note is the bass.

OP: Why do you seek to define something that can't be defined othan than via relative relationship?

 

[steubig]

^^agreed. just went for the easiest. (baritone/bass saxophone)

 

[Rib 13]

A bass line is played on a bass guitar.
End of topic.

I guess that kickass bass part done by Bernie Worrell and his Mini Moog on Parliament's "Flashlight" doesnt count as a bassline....silly me...........

 

[lfmn16]

/sic/

The question does not stand. The question begs another:

Why do you draw a line at all?

 

[Finnigan's wake]

Bass is a state of mind.

 

[Nephilymbass]

What is a bass? Is a bass no longer a bass because of how it's tuned?

What is a guitar? Are 30" scale baritone and 8 and 9 string guitars still a guitar? Heck 9 string guitars technically go lower than 4 string standard tuned basses.

What is music? Meshuggah is just noise to some people, hip hop is just poetry to some people.

We could talk bout this stuff till we die. I might say a bass isn't a real bass without a low b string. I currently own a 5 string and a 4 string that's setup bead. People would say I'm crazy. Doesn't really matter what anyone's opinions are. I've owned everything from 4-7 string and have used tunings ranging from low f# to piccolo. Still never owned a 8 (4x2) bass but would like to in the future. Piccolo tuning is fun if you have an extra bass and want something to mess around with by yourself at home it's also a good way for bass players to write guitar parts their band.

Have fun with it.

 

[Wandering Bass]

Sorry, but any theory that says what Anthony Jackson is doing doesn't count as bass playing should immediately be thrown in the trash.

I've seen him live twice. He's a very talented musician, and his resume shows that he can certainly play bass, but what he does on stage when headlining isn't bass. His technique, phrasing, and arrangements are much closer to those of a guitarist than a bassist. He can hold whatever instrument he wants, but he's playing guitar lines.

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.

Yeah!

 

[John B jr]

OP

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.

Exactly how it goes. My brother strums out those Creedence tunes while I groove under and sing over it. Channeling Fogerty's vocals doesn't require a mic in that setting. Thumb slapping the body on the back beat helps!

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.

"Troll" would imply ill intent. None here. Yeah, I'm noob-ish but not a hater. A nice heavy Stingray 5 would be my archetype. Someone's opinion may be drastically different from ours but I consider none of them to be wrong. Even contrary statements are helpful. I did start with a couple of corner-cases and an overly simplistic, one-dimensional definition.

"Be the bass" has been my sig from day one. The theme here amounts to "What am I"? It doesn't get much more existential than that.

 

[madbass6]

I think the illumination & camera are from 1971 also

lol.. Good one! of course was on purpose to give it that 70s vibe!!(?)
actually pics Taken on my friends Samsung V10 cell phone it's suposed to have an awsome camera! So maybe it's the photographer! me
Here's better pics.(I hope)
same camera phone same day !

 

[madbass6]

except when it's played on upright bass or tuba.

Or when played on the left hand on the piano!