guitar decorations image
Mr. Floyd
I think bass guitar is an excellent instrument but I never understood what purpose it plays in music. Especially rock music.
I mean, guitar gives the song the whole feeling, drums provide a beat. What does a bass do?
Answer
Depends a bit on the genre and the song and the band and the talents associated with the band. Traditionally in Rock and Blues think of a song like a building. The drums are normally the stone on which the foundation sits, the bass the foundation and the rest of the instruments build upon those 2. The bass translates beat to the guitarist(s) and often the singer is listening more to the bass than the drums as well. The bass feeds back the other way also, the bass is the way the guitarist talk to the drummer.
Melodically the bass is frequently used to provide continuity to the sound. This allows the guitars to go into abstracts, leads and other patterns without leaving the listener feeling like the song is skipping.
The bass is the low end of the sound. Balances with the other instruments.
The bass is the driver. When you see heads a nodding or people dancing it's usually to the bass.
An accomplished bassist often doubles as the rythym guitar in a 3 piece outfit. Geddy Lee of Rush for example has such expensive bass lines there often is room for only a single guitar.
The bass can also be a lead instrument. If the guitars are into something primal it's expected of the bass to jump out and provide the decoration for what the guitars are doing.
Depends a bit on the genre and the song and the band and the talents associated with the band. Traditionally in Rock and Blues think of a song like a building. The drums are normally the stone on which the foundation sits, the bass the foundation and the rest of the instruments build upon those 2. The bass translates beat to the guitarist(s) and often the singer is listening more to the bass than the drums as well. The bass feeds back the other way also, the bass is the way the guitarist talk to the drummer.
Melodically the bass is frequently used to provide continuity to the sound. This allows the guitars to go into abstracts, leads and other patterns without leaving the listener feeling like the song is skipping.
The bass is the low end of the sound. Balances with the other instruments.
The bass is the driver. When you see heads a nodding or people dancing it's usually to the bass.
An accomplished bassist often doubles as the rythym guitar in a 3 piece outfit. Geddy Lee of Rush for example has such expensive bass lines there often is room for only a single guitar.
The bass can also be a lead instrument. If the guitars are into something primal it's expected of the bass to jump out and provide the decoration for what the guitars are doing.
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