This article will introduce you to the role of the bass guitar, its structure, and the many ways to play it, emphasising its importance and appeal. As both a rhythmic instrument and a melodic contributor, we’ll discuss the bass guitar’s central place in music and the variety of ways to play it.
The bass guitar: rhythm, melody, and four strings
With the widespread availability of MP3s and smartphones, listening to music has become an everyday hobby for most people. Add to this the rise of streaming services and various music platforms, and the interest in not only listening to music, but also creating and performing music has expanded even further. This trend has been fuelled by the popularity of talent shows such as ‘I’m a singer’ and ‘Superstar K’. In addition to vocals, the public now pays attention to instrumentalists, and there is a greater interest in session musicians, which has led to a greater knowledge of instruments than in the past. However, despite this, bass guitars are still less recognised than guitars and drums. Even among those who are musically inclined, many don’t understand the role or importance of the bass. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the bass guitar, its construction, and how to play it, so you can see just how important it is.
The role of the bass guitar
To get an idea of the bass guitar’s role in the composition of a song, let’s take a look at the score for Monty’s ‘Showers.’ You’ll notice that the bass guitar is primarily playing one note at a time, shaping the rhythm like a drum, but also supporting the flow of the melody like a guitar. This shows that the bass guitar has a dual nature as both a rhythmic and melodic instrument. The bass guitar plays an important role in completing the sound of the drums and guitar, adding a rhythmic dimension that the drums alone may lack, and adding depth and richness to the music through its different low-end sounds from the guitar.
The role of the bass guitar varies across genres: in jazz and funk music, the bass is often the driving rhythmic force, controlling the flow of the song. In rock and metal, on the other hand, the bass guitar backs up the intense sounds of the guitar and drums, but also builds melodic lines that stand on their own. So the bass guitar is more than just a supporting player; it’s an important element that sets the mood and colour of the whole song.
Bass guitar construction
Next, let’s take a look at the basic structure of the bass guitar, which is divided into three main parts: the head, neck, and body. The main difference with a guitar is the number of strings. While guitars typically have six strings, bass guitars have four or five strings. This allows them to cover a lower range of tones.
The head is where the tuning pegs are located, so you can adjust the tension of the strings to get the tuning right. For a four-string bass, the standard tuning is E, A, D, G, in that order. The neck is where you pluck the strings to adjust the pitch, and is divided into frets, with each fret changing by a semitone. Being able to pluck the right frets on the neck to produce the right sound is one of the most important aspects of a player’s skill.
The body also plays an important role in the bass guitar. The body houses the bridge and pickups. The pickups are responsible for converting the vibrations of the strings into electronic signals that are amplified through an amplifier. The pickups are one of the most important factors in determining the sound of a bass guitar. Different types of pickups will give your bass a different sound. If you use two or more pickups, you can expect more variation in sound. This is a great way for players to tailor the tone of their bass guitar to suit their style of music.
How to play the bass guitar
Bass guitars are also played in a variety of ways. Generally speaking, the most popular way to play the bass guitar is fingering, which involves using your fingers to bounce the strings. This is different from the electric guitar, which uses picks to produce sound by bouncing the strings directly with the fingers. Fingering is favoured by many musicians because it produces a natural tone, and the sound varies according to the strength and feel of the player’s fingers. Fingering also lends itself to a wide range of rhythmic expressions, making it a great way to showcase the rhythmic nature of the bass.
The bass guitar also has two other fingering methods: slap and fingerpicking. The slap method involves striking the strings with the thumb and plucking the strings with the index or middle finger, which can produce a much more intense and rhythmic sound than fingering. This technique is often used in funk and jazz music, where its unique strike and timbre can maximise the energy of the rhythm. The slap technique in particular is a great way to showcase the bass guitar’s colourful sound, and takes a lot of practice to master.
The appeal and importance of the bass guitar
The bass guitar isn’t just an instrument that sits in the background; it’s the centrepiece of a song, setting the tone for the drums, guitar, and even the vocals. Although the bass guitar rarely plays the main melody, its riffs and lines provide the framework for the song and create space for the other instruments to play freely on top of it.
In the song ‘True Romance’ by Drunken Tiger, the lyrics read, ‘A thumping bass wakes the sleeping ones. This lyric describes the powerful impact the bass has on a song. The bass guitar is an instrument that works quietly behind the scenes, laying the foundation of a song, but sometimes making its presence felt dramatically. The steadiness and rhythm that the bass provides is essential to any piece of music.
