Electric bass

An amplified low-register instrument, usually with four thick strings tuned E to G an octave below the guitar's lowest four, and the harmonic and rhythmic anchor of most popular music.

Its amplified voice is normally kept clean and full-bodied, with the player's tone made in the fingers, the plucking position and the instrument's own controls rather than in distortion. Where the strings are plucked matters enormously: near the bridge gives a tight, nasal sound with fast decay, over the pickup gives a rounder, fuller one. In a band the bass shares the low end with the kick drum, so note length and sustain are used deliberately to keep the two from crowding each other.

Example: playing short, damped notes on a bass leaves room for a busy kick pattern, while long notes glue a ballad together.

Electric bass

See also