Bass Guitar

Bass guitars usually have four strings. From lowest to highest these would be E-A-D-G. These are the same four strings as on a double bass found in orchestras. The bass guitar is much smaller and easier to transport than the upright double bass. It can substitute for the double bass in some settings but it does not sound exactly the same.

Some manufacturers and some players have made and used bass guitars with five and six strings. These strings extend the range of the bass guitar lower (fifth string) and higher (sixth string). Some bass guitars are fretless, which produces a smoother, softer transition between notes.

Bass guitars are usually plucked. Players have worked to develop new playing styles where they thump or hit the string rather than pull the string. This produces a more explosive percussive sound.

There is a large variation in the tone quality of a bass guitar. This variation is caused by the instrument itself as well as the amplifier and how these two pieces are set up. If the amp is set to provide more treble sound, then the instrument will cut through and have some edge to it. If the bass frequencies are turned up, then the bass will have a booming quality to the sound.

Bass guitars can be found in a variety of popular musical settings including jazz, blues, rock, country, and movie and television studio orchestras.

Study the image provided and listen to the sound sample of the bass guitar to gain an understanding of this instrument.

Listen to a sample of the bass guitar: