What Is Bass Guitar?
The Bass Guitar Is an electric bass or simply bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length, and typically four to six strings or courses.
What Is Bass Guitar Used For?
The bass guitar is used to play low musical sounds called “bass lines” in many styles of music such as rock, pop, country, jazz fusion and many more.
How Different Is Bass Guitar From Guitar?
The bass guitar is typically slightly larger than the standard electric or acoustic guitar. With four strings, it is quite similar to the guitar, except for the fact that its notes are about an octave lower than the guitar. Because of this, its typical role in a band is to act as a supporting instrument.
What Does Bass Buitar Mean In Music?
The guitar with six strings that has the lowest pitch.
Is Bass Easier Than Guitar?
Bass is easier than guitar in the early stages of learning music. You can play or cover famous songs quicker with a bass guitar. Most bass parts are monophonic, so you don’t have to learn chords.
Is Bass Guitar Necessary In Music;
Simply put, bass is important in music and necessary in a band because it bridges the gap between treble (guitar) and percussion (drums), providing a rhythmic and harmonic function at the same time. Despite the bass frequency’s hidden and subtle sound, it plays a crucial role in a piece of music.
Who Plays Bass Guitar?
A Bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or trombone.
How Do I Know If My Guitar Is Electric Or Bass?
Bass guitars in general are bigger than electric guitars and have thicker strings, but not as many. Most bass guitars have only 4 strings, opposed to guitars, that have 6 strings. But there are also a good number of bass guitars with 5 strings and very rarely you can even see bass guitars with 6,7 or even 8 strings.
What Does Bass Do To A Song?
When bass notes are played in a musical ensemble such an orchestra, they are frequently used to provide a counterpoint or counter-melody, in a harmonic context either to outline or juxtapose the progression of the chords, or with percussion to underline the rhythm.
What Is The Difference Between Bass And Treble?
- The treble is the highest sound in music while the bass is the lowest sound in music.
- The treble is located on the line in the staff that is a space higher than the bass while the bass is located on the line in the staff that is a space lower than the treble.
Why Does A Bass Guitar Have 4 Strings?
A lot of music has been played on 4-strings. The reason for having more strings is to add more range to the bass. More range means being able to play more lower pitched notes and/or higher pitched notes. Also, the more strings you have under your fingers, the more notes you have under your fingers.
What key is bass guitar in?
If you’re playing a standard bass guitar, you will notice that your bass has only 4 strings. The standard tuning for a 4 string bass is E, A, D, G (the same as the four lowest strings on the guitar but one octave lower). The bass strings are tuned in fourths.
Buying A Bass Guitar For Beginners;
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the considerations you may want to keep in mind when buying your first bass guitar. To make the process easier on you, we’ll cover:
• What To Consider When Buying A Bass Guitar
• The Anatomy of a Bass Guitar
• Different Types of Bass Guitars
• Should You Choose A 4-, 5-, or 6-String Bass Guitar?
• Bass Tonewoods Explained
• What Size Bass Guitar Should You Get?
• Which Bass Guitar Is Right For You?
• Getting Started With Bass Accessories
• Learn To Play Bass Guitar Now
What To Consider When Buying A Bass Guitar
There are a number of factors to consider when trying to decide which bass guitar is right for you. The right bass will combine different attributes that work for you and can include the right price, size, and more. Here’s what to look for when buying a bass:
• Price: The price of a bass guitar can range wildly — from under $150 to $1,500 or higher. When choosing a bass guitar, keep your budget and mind and how much you’re willing to spend. There are plenty of great starter bass guitars and many of these lower-priced options are still quality instruments.
• Body style: There are two different types of body styles when it comes to bass guitars: solid body and semi-hollow.
– Most electric bass guitars have a solid body, similar to that of an electric guitar. They produce a louder and meatier sound since they’re made with amplification in mind.
– However, there are also semi-hollow options that offer up a sound more in-line with an acoustic bass. A semi-hollow bass still works with an amp, but gives you flexibility with your tone to shift between the full-on amplified style of a solid body, with the resonance of an acoustic bass.
• Neck: The neck of your bass guitar is another consideration to keep in mind. Necks come in a variety of styles. Depending on your preference and playing style, certain neck shapes may make it easier to navigate the fretboard.
– U-shaped – Sometimes referred to as “baseball bat” necks, basses with U-shaped necks may be great for players with large hands. This style of neck is thick and rounded.
– V-shaped – There are two different types of v-shaped necks: a “soft” V and a pointer “hard” V. The soft V-neck is more rounded, while the hard is often cited as being more comfortable for players.
– C-shaped – The C-shaped neck can be either an oval shape, or more like the “modern c” that takes on a flat oval shape. The C-shaped neck lends itself to most playing styles.
• Scale length: There are long-scale and short-scale basses. A standard (or long-scale bass) is 34”, while a short-scale bass is only 30”. Short-scale basses are better for bassists with smaller hands since they have a shorter distance between frets.
• Tonewood: One factor you might not have considered in choosing a bass is the tonewood. Different types of wood affect the sound, tone, and even the weight of the guitar. (We’ll go into the different types of bass tonewoods a little later to help you make your decision!)
• Style of music you want to play: What was the band or artist that made you want to pick up the bass? The genre and style of music you’re drawn to might help you decide on the type of bass you choose. Rock, metal, jazz, and funk often look to different types of solid body bass guitars. That’s not a hard and fast rule, however. Some genres, like the blues and even some more experimental styles, sometimes lean toward a semi-hollow body style. There are a ton of choices of solid body guitars, so testing each one out to find the right sound for you is part of the fun of shopping around!
The Anatomy Of A Bass Guitar
Before you buy your first bass guitar, it’s important to know the different parts of your instrument. This can help you understand what other players are talking about and help you develop a better understanding.
The bass has three main parts that contain some of the other components of your instrument.
• Body:
– Bridge & String saddles – This is where your strings rest and are anchored to the bottom of your bass.
– Pickups – “pick up” the vibration of the strings and turn them into an electric signal transmitted through an amp.
– Volume and Tone knobs – These separate knobs control the sound of your bass.
– Pickguard – This is a section of laminated material that protects your bass from getting scratched by the pick.
– Output jack – Your output cord plugs into this jack. From there, you’d plug the other end into your amp.
– Strap buttons – There is a strap button at the bottom of your bass guitar and another near the top part of the body.
• Neck:
– Nut – This small piece material sits between the headstock and fretboard. It lifts your strings away from the fretboard so that they can ring out when you fret a note.
– Frets are thin metal strips used to show you where to place your fingers to play a specific note on the fretboard.
– Fretboard – This is the long strip of wood that extends between the headstock and the body of your guitar.
– Fret markers – These are small dots inlaid between specific frets on the fretboard. These markers make it easy to visualize what fret you are playing, especially when using tablature.
• Headstock
– Tuning pegs can be turned to tighten or loosen the strings of your bass guitar.
– String tree, which holds your strings down.
Types of Bass Guitars
Like their six-stringed counterparts, there are several different types of bass guitars. The two main categories of bass guitars are electric and acoustic. Electric basses tend to leave you with more options to choose from — including solid-body and semi-hollow body basses. Let’s get to know more about each of these types of bass guitars.
Electric Bass Guitars
Before Leo Fender created the Fender Precision Bass in 1951, bassists played large, cumbersome stand-up instruments. The electric bass as we know it came to life thanks to Leo Fender, packing the powerful sound of a standup bass into a compact package that could be electrified in the same way as a guitar.
In the early days of rock n’ roll and country-tinged rockabilly in the 1950s, the electric bass helped define the sound of these genres, giving them the hefty, low-end rumble that could reach even the cheap seats of a crowded concert hall. To this day, the electric bass remains a staple of funk, rock, metal, pop, and country.
Here are a few reasons why you might lean toward playing an electric bass:
• Multiple sizes: Electric basses are available in both a standard (long) scale and a short scale size, giving players of all ages and sizes more flexibility to find an instrument that works with their unique physiology.
• Different styles, different sounds: From solid body electric basses to semi-hollow body basses that give you the best of both acoustic and electric worlds, electric basses offer players a variety of tones.
• Amplification: An electric bass produces a big, booming sound. Its ability to be amplified allows you to play quietly during a practice session, keeping your amp tuned low — or to crank the volume when you’re ready to play live.
• Fits with many genres: While the electric bass has its roots in early rock n’ roll and rockabilly, to this day, the electric bass remains a staple of funk, rock, metal, the blues, and country. If you’re a fan of any (or all!) of these styles of music, the electric bass can be a gateway to unlocking a whole new level of appreciation for the music you love.
Browse through some of Fender’s most iconic electric bass guitars and see which one you might want to play.
Acoustic Bass Guitars
Acoustic bass guitars look similar to classic acoustic guitars in that they both have a similar hollow body and sound hole. And while they definitely possess the low-end rumble of their electric bass counterparts, acoustic bass guitars have a more mellow, muted sound. Acoustic basses are less common than electric bass guitars, but you can listen for them in more laid-back genres such as folk and world music where the bass isn’t quite as front-and-center as it is in funk or rock.
You might be drawn to playing an acoustic base if you like:
• Keeping it simple: With an acoustic bass, you don’t have to worry about plugging into an amp, although there are some electrified acoustic basses available.
• A unique sound: The role of the bass in a song is to provide the rhythm of a song. While the bass is often an unsung hero of a band, an acoustic bass lends a different sound to a song. An acoustic bass still has that powerful low-end, but it’s less in-your-face as an electric and works well with genres like folk, world, and possibly even blues.
An acoustic bass might not be the right fit for beginners, given that it has a thicker neck than an electric bass. For beginners or players with smaller hands, the structure of an acoustic bass may be more difficult to master than learning on an electric bass. Similarly, if you want to play louder, more rhythm-driven like funk and rock, the mellow sound of an acoustic bass may not be suited to your style of music.
History Of The Bass Guitar;
First, a little background. The electric bass guitar was first designed in the 1950s. Initially conceived as a way for guitarists to sit in on bass, the instrument quickly took over as the preeminent low-end instrument for the music of the day. Though bass guitar options were limited back then, today you’ll find a plethora of choices in woods, electronics, scale length, strings, and more. Luckily, whether you want fretted, fretless, bolt-on, or neck-through, you’re going to find it at Sweetwater.
We Present To You Some Prices Of Bass Top Guitars In Ghana;
Yamaha 5string Bass Guitar
GH₵ 710
Fender 5 String Bass Guitar
GH₵ 1,050
Ibanez Active Bass Guitar
GH₵ 1,600
Fender Professional Jazz Bass Guitar
GH₵ 1,050
Yamaha Bass Guitar
GH₵ 845
Gibson Passive Bass Guitar
GH₵ 850
