Bass guitar

:For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation).

Playing styles

Most bassists prefer to pluck strings with the fingers but some also use plectra (also called picks). This often varies according to the musical genre—very few funk bassists use plectrums, while they are almost a necessity for punk rock. Using a plectrum typically gives the bass a brighter, more punchy sound, while playing with one's fingers makes the sound more soft and round. Some bassists use their fingernails flamenco-style to provide some compromise between playing fingerstyle and using a pick. Bassists trying to emulate the sound of a double bass will often pluck the strings with their thumb, and use their fingers to anchor their hand.

Related Topics:
Plectra - Musical genre - Funk - Punk rock

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Variations in style also occur in where a bassist rests his right-hand thumb. A player may rest his thumb on the top edge of one of the pickups. One may also rest his thumb on the side of the fretboard, which is especially common among bassist who have an upright bass influence. Also, bassists with more than 4 string basses may utilize a low string which isn't often used as a thumb rest. By resting their thumb to anchor their hand while they use their index and middle fingers, bassists create a fuller and louder sound. Early Fender models also came with a "thumbrest" attached to the pickguard, below the strings. Contrary to its name, this was not used to rest your thumb, but to rest your fingers while using your thumb to pluck the strings. (The thumbrest was moved above the strings in 70's models, and eliminated entirely in the 80's.)

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Bassists also have different preferences as to where on the string they pluck the notes. While the influential bassist Jaco Pastorius and many with him preferred to pluck them very close to the bridge for a bright and sharp sound, many prefer the rounder sound they get by plucking closer to the neck, mostly near the neck pickup. Geezer Butler, among others, plucks the strings over the higher frets.

Related Topics:
Jaco Pastorius - Geezer Butler

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Adding to the many choices is a decision for a bass player to use a fretted or fretless instrument. Fretless basses are known for the smoothness of its slide and unique tone, but require precise fingering. Jaco Pastorius was one of the players to bring the fretless bass into the spotlight. Fretted basses are still a more common choice although many bassists will have examples of both in their collection.

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Another variable is the differing role of the bass within different types of music, and the position in the music that bassist prefers to occupy. Paul McCartney of the Beatles, Wings, and several other projects tends to favor a subdued, melodic approach a little further back in the mix. Progressive rock bassists have been revolutionary by making the instrument a more important and recognizable voice in their respective bands, a trend that caught on in many bands that have followed them. John Entwistle of The Who and Jack Bruce of Cream introduced a more aggressive styles with the former's trademark trebly tone and the latter's very smooth tone. Chris Squire of Yes took the instrument one step further in the early 1970s, combining McCartney's melodicism with Entwistle's energy and employing an aggressive, overdriven tone that expanded even further the bass's role as rhythmic and harmonic foundation. Geddy Lee of Rush has been experimenting with bass chords, layered bass lines, and flamenco-style fingerpicking in the group's recent recordings.

Related Topics:
Paul McCartney - Beatles - Wings - John Entwistle - The Who - Jack Bruce - Cream - Chris Squire - Yes - Geddy Lee - Rush

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The famous slap and pop method, in which notes and percussive sounds are created by slapping the string with the thumb and release strings with a snap, was pioneered by Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone in the 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1970s Stanley Clarke developed Graham's technique further, adding the popping and speed that are a hallmark of contemporary playing. Today, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers exemplifies slap and pop with a foundation in funk, and Les Claypool of Primus is known for playing extremely complex slap and pop basslines.

Related Topics:
Slap and pop - Larry Graham - Sly and the Family Stone - Stanley Clarke - Flea - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funk - Les Claypool - Primus

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An even more recent development is the two-handed tapping style, where both hands play notes by tapping the string to the fret. This makes it possible to play contrapuntally, or to play complicated chords and arpeggios. Since this makes the bass take up a large part of the aural spectrum, it is mostly used by bass players who act as the lead in their music. Notable examples are Stuart Hamm, whose music is metal-oriented, and Michael Manring, who has a more jazzy/new age style.

Related Topics:
Contrapuntally - Stuart Hamm - Michael Manring - Jazz - New age

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Dependant on electronics is the "Ebow" technique. This uses a small handheld device that when placed above the string, causes it to start vibrating. This ingenious device uses a small electromagnet combined with complex circuitry to create a slow attack and virtually unlimited sustain. Although not usable for fast playing, it makes a very pleasing effect.

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James Jamerson, one of the most influential bassists ever, was well-known for his work in many popular Motown songs and is widely considered one of the greatest, most musical bassists of all time. Jamerson played the bass with only his index finger, (which gained him the nickname "the hook") but created intricate bass lines that have proven challenging even for modern bassists using the more usual two-fingered (typically index and middle) technique.

Related Topics:
James Jamerson - Motown

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