The bass guitar is a relatively young instrument that appeared in the early 1950s. The main purpose of the bass guitar in a musical group is to play in the low-frequency range as part of the rhythm section.
Since the bass guitar is the closest relative of the double bass, in the classical version it also has four strings. The easiest way to learn is just on a four-string instrument.
The four-string bass guitar has a fourth system: Mi (the lowest string), A, Re, Sol. These strings are exactly the same as the bottom four strings on a regular six-string guitar, only they sound an octave lower.
Sometimes some bass players tune the bottom E string down a step to D. Thus, the interval between the two lower strings turns from fourth to fifth. In this tuning, it is very convenient to perform the so-called power chords (fifth chords), simply by pinching them with one finger. For quick retuning of the bass guitar while playing from one tuning to another, a special mechanical D-Tune device is used, which allows you to quickly lower or raise the fourth string by a tone with the help of a lever.
D-Tune mechanism for lowering the string
Among the world's four-string bass players are such names as Stanley Clark, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Billy Sheehan.
Recently, five-string bass guitars with an extended sound range have gained great popularity. In this case, in addition to the standard four strings, another lower string is added, tuned in C. Thus, in the "five-string" all the strings are still in fourths.
Playing a five-string bass guitar is very comfortable in some keys, and allows you to stay in a low range without using high notes. In addition, the “five-string” was also appreciated by fans of playing “heavy” styles: the lower C string gives out very energetic and rich “bottoms”.
When playing such a bass guitar, it should be borne in mind that its neck is wider than on a four-string instrument, but the distance between the strings is slightly less.
Five-string bass guitars are played by such stars as Nathan East, Tony Levin, Richard Bona.
In addition to five-string bass guitars, six-string bass guitars have gained some popularity. These are real monsters with a wide neck and the widest bass range. The six-string bass guitar is tuned to a "five-string" with an added high C string. As you can see, the six-string bass guitar still retains the full fourth tuning, since there is a fourth interval between all the strings.
Beginning guitarists are not recommended to learn how to play a six-string bass guitar right away. It is much more difficult to master the technique of playing than a standard four-string guitar. "Six-string" is needed mainly for those bass players who often perform solo parts.
Six-string bass guitars are used by Steve Bailey, John Patitucci, John Mayang.
The bass guitar is a wonderful instrument.
Being both a rhythmic and melodic instrument, it is used in almost any style of music, so bassists can easily find a band for themselves. The bass is fun because, without being as flashy as the guitar, it directs the music, gives it drive. The bass is also relatively simple, clear and easy to learn. However, our guide will help you learn a few basic things when choosing a tool for the first time.
Parts of an electric bass guitar
Questions of style
All basses work the same, regardless of style. You want a bass that is light on your shoulder and has a sound that suits the music you are playing. The most important thing about a bass is what you like about it. The more it fits you and your music, the more you will play and enjoy.
Bass for beginners
In recent years, many "beginner" basses have become available. Many of these are playable, though not as carefully crafted as the more expensive ones. They don't have the highest quality sensors and hardware, but they are still acceptable for early learning. For musicians who are confident in their ability and interest, these cheaper instruments give you a taste of the bass without spending a lot of money. If you are sure that your interest will be long-term, it would be better to go a little higher in price and quality. You won't outgrow the instrument too quickly, and not the best bass can make learning a little easier.
How many strings
There are, and even bass guitars. If you are a beginner, start with a 4-string. You can play anything on a 4-string bass and it's best to keep things simple when you're just starting out. The advantage of the 5-string is that the 5th string lowers the tuning to B (B). Modern pop and funk styles often use notes from this range. The 6-string bass extends the range of the instrument both above and below.
Hollow body and non-hollow body guitars
The hollow-body bass is the most common type among the . In more expensive instruments, the body is often made from a single piece of wood - alder, maple, ash, mahogany, or some other wood that sounds good. In cheaper guitars, the body can be made of plywood or pressed plywood, soft woods. There are even electric basses with plastic cases.
Hollow body basses, like acoustic guitars, use the same magnetic pickups as non-hollow body basses. They are used primarily in jazz and folk music, which is quieter and requires a more acoustic sound. Famous hollow-body Hofner bass with f-shaped cutouts (used by Paul McCartney). He is an example of such a guitar in rock music. Hollow body basses have the advantage of being lighter, but tend to be more limited in volume because feedback occurs faster than non-hollow body guitars. There are also semi-hollow hulls with a solid center and hollow hull parts.
Another type of hollow bass is the . It is truly an acoustic instrument with a piezo pickup that allows you to be amplified. Most often, the piezo pickup will be located under the bridge (stand), and the preamp mounted on the guitar allows you to adjust the tone when connected.
Guitar neck
Most fretboards are made from hard maple or mahogany because it is a strong wood that will withstand string tension. Usually the neck is made from one solid piece of wood, but sometimes several pieces of different types are pressed together for greater strength and stiffness.
Kernel
Any neck flexes slightly under tension. For this reason, as a rule, a rod is inserted into the neck, sometimes two, which allows the neck to be straightened.
Fretboard
Fretboards are usually made from rosewood, maple, or ebony. This is an excellent wood, but it can vary in quality. The best rubbers are smooth, hard and dense, so they wear out very slowly. The overlay, as a rule, has a small radius in cross section. On some guitars, the fingerboard will be flat, while others may have a radius of up to 25 cm. The smaller the radius, the more arched the fingerboard is.
Neck Bolt Attachment
Most basses have a neck that is bolted to the body. The number and material of bolts needs to be considered. You want the bolts that hold the bar to stay in place while you play. You also want the connection between the neck and body to be firm. In addition, it would be nice if a longer neck lay on the body for more stability and better transfer of vibration.
Neck attachment
There are basses in which the neck is attached to a special cutout in the body, which gives additional strength. This has the advantage of a sound that has good resonance. However, it is more difficult to adjust than a bolt-on mount.
One piece neck
In this case, the neck passes in a solid part through the body. Two halves of the body are attached to the neck. In this case, there are no elements that prevent the decrease in sustain.
mensura
The scale is the distance between the sills. Most often, the length is 863.6 mm. There are smaller scale basses (such as the Fender Mustang or Gibson EBO) around 750mm. These short scale basses are a good choice for young players with small hands who may have trouble with a standard sized instrument. Long scale tools are about 875 mm long. It has more frets and most often has 5 or 6 strings.
Fretted and fretless
If you are a beginner, it is probably better to postpone the purchase. They require a well-trained ear to play. To begin with, it is better to have frets in order to hit notes accurately. After you have developed the basic skills, you may want to buy a fretless bass as a second instrument. Once you have a fretless bass, you'll feel like you're playing a double bass, which is great for certain styles of music.
Breeches
The best breeches are made of brass, and are often plated with chrome or silver nickel. The idea is that a heavier bridge will better transmit vibration from the string to the wood. The toothed part through which the string passes is called the saddle; it should be adjustable both up and down and back and forth. By adjusting the saddles up or down, you can change the distance from the string to the neck. By changing the length of the string (moving the saddle forward or backward), you can improve the intonation of the instrument.
Sensors
There are two main types of pickups: a single (from the English "single"), representing a single electromagnetic coil and a humbucker - a dual coil, as well as combinations of them. Single coils are the original and most simple sensors. They are thinner, the tone is more defined, which cuts through the overall mix very well. On the other hand, they are noisier than humbuckers.
One common type of pickup is split coils (for example on the Fender Precision Bass). This is the only single pickup that can function as a humbucker. The two halves of the sensor are separated and one side is reverse polarity of the other. This way you get a tone that's closer to a single coil but lacks noise - like a humbucker.
The humbucker pickup was designed to attenuate noise, it has a fatter sound. The humbucker, however, can sound muddy at high volumes.
Most basses have two pickups rather than one, which gives them a greater tonal range. A pickup closer to the neck will have a smoother, more bass sound, while a pickup closer to the bridge will have a sharper sound rich in highs and mids.
Electronics: active and passive
To determine active or passive, see the amplifier circuit of the device. An active bass needs power, usually provided by a battery. The advantage of an active system is a more powerful signal output and more control over the tone. Active bass can have a separate equalizer that divides the range into frequency bands - low, medium and high. Some of them even have controls that allow you to switch sensors.
Passive systems operate without a power source and have fewer controls, typically a volume knob, a tone knob, and a pickup switch if there are more than one. One of the advantages of passive bass is that it doesn't rely on a battery that can die in the middle of a gig. The other is ease of operation and they have more traditional low frequencies.
Main essence
Here are a few guidelines for buying your first bass:
Buy the best one you can afford. Good bass will make learning easy and you won't outgrow it quickly.
Choose a fretted instrument if you're not ready for a fretless one.
Choose a regular scale bass.
Choose a short scale bass if you are young, small, or have unusually short arms.
For simplicity, choose a tool.
Choose a bass with simple electronics so you can focus on the strings, not the knobs.
Choose the bass colors and shapes that you like. Its appearance won't make it sound better, but it may inspire you to play more.
Glossary of terms
action: the distance from the string to the fretboard. The smaller it is, the easier it is to play, because the strings should not be pressed too hard.
Piezo sensor: Some ceramic and polymer crystals exhibit electrical effects. Piezo means pressure (in Greek), and piezoelectric materials directly convert mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.
Kernel: metal pin located inside the neck. It allows you to keep the neck from bending into an arc under the tension of the strings. To access the adjusting screw, some designs require the removal of the pickguard. Sometimes the adjustment screw is at the top of the neck, sometimes at the bottom.
The first inventor of the bass guitar is Leo Fender, who introduced the first mass-produced Fender Precision Bass and Jazz Bass in 1951 (alder body, maple neck, 20 frets). Since then, many varieties of bass guitars have appeared, differing in shape, range (the volume of sound from the lowest to the highest sound), scale length (the length of the working part of the string), the number of strings and pickups, the mechanism for attaching and tuning strings, the electrical circuit of the tone block, the presence or lack of fretboards (nuts) and other design features In 1961, Bill Wyman came up with a fretless bass, personally removing the frets from an inexpensive instrument that he bought on sale. A distinctive feature of such an instrument was that, due to the lack of a fret partition, the string was pressed directly against the fretboard, and because of this, the bass sound was melodious and looked like a contrabass one.
And in 1966, the production of a fretless bass guitar was already launched, and it went on sale. Jaco Pastorius also created his fretless instrument in the 70s. The development of technical capabilities and ambitions of musicians inevitably led to an increase in the sound range, in connection with which 24-fret bass guitars appeared. And the development in musical directions, such as jazz, rock, heavy metal, led to the creation of 5 and 6 string (and even more) bass guitars.
Six-string instruments, due to the large force of string tension, led to a change in the design of the neck. The neck now consisted of several parts that had different density. And also on some brands of bass guitars, manufacturers installed 2 anchor bolts in the neck. Manufacturers competed with each other, and each sought to create a new sound and appeal with the appearance of instruments. They even tried to make necks and fingerboards from metal alloys.
Bass guitar sound range
Standard bass guitar tuning with four strings: E (mi) - A (la) - D (re) - G (sol). Such an instrument is absolutely sufficient for playing in any style, and, in addition, it is recommended for a beginner to start learning on a four-string bass to set up classical performing techniques. Sometimes in "alternative" music they use the so-called drop - a system that sets the lower string to the note D (that is, tuning the lower strings to the fifth interval). This allows you to use the so-called power chord when playing, using either open third and fourth strings, or clamping them with one finger like a barre. This greatly simplifies the part and increases the speed of playing such songs (eg Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way).
Five-string basses tend to be tuned down by a fourth (the 5th string gives the C note), extending the low range, making it easier to play in an ensemble with brass instruments that use mostly flat keys, as well as to play "heavy" music, individual pieces in pop music and Dubstep music. For six-string basses, the range is extended in both directions - this is the lower B (a fourth down from E) and the upper C (a fourth up from G). Such basses have a very wide neck, which at the same time must withstand a very significant string tension. Such an instrument is more often used by jazz or progressive rock performers who often have to play solo.
The main parts of the bass guitar design:
peg mechanism There is an open type, it was invented by Leo Fender in the 50s of the 20th century, and this is the most popular type of tuning pegs today. There is also a closed type, the mechanism of such pegs is hidden under the body, inside of which there is a special lubricant. Such a mechanism is much lighter and smaller in size.
A detuner can be built into the peg mechanism - this is a device with which you can lower the instrument's pitch right during the game with one simple movement, and also easily return it to its original pitch.
Mounted on the neck Nut. It can mostly be made from plastic, but can also be made from bone, brass, or nickel. Metal nuts add metal directly to the sound of the instrument, bone adds readability, clarity, and plastic itself does not particularly affect the sound, but since it is cheaper and there are no problems replacing it, therefore such a nut is used more often. You can also sharpen the depth or width of the grooves in it.
Nuts come in complex designs, such as nut that can be adjusted in height, or nut for electric guitars. They fix the system of the instrument with three screws. fret sills made from special wire. Frets are made from copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and cadmium. The proportions of alloys are different.
Bass bridge is fixed and separate. Mostly fixed bridges are installed. The split bridge consists of several elements - a bridge and a bridge.
Bass guitar breeches differ in the way the strings are attached:
The hole in the bracket through which the string is threaded.
A cell in which a string is placed and fixed there.
The strings pass through the body.
The bridge will be good if it is heavy and tightly pressed against the surface of the deck. So the vibrations will be better transmitted. There are so-called "headless" bass guitars, they have a special type of bridges with a complex design that combines the bridge itself and the peg mechanism in one whole.
There are also bridges with a lever (tremolo system), similar to those sometimes used on solo guitars.
Passive Pickup transmits the signal as it is. The passive timbre block is a volume control of the pickups (bridge, neck, or both) and timbre.
active pickup, due to the preamplifier in the form of a microcircuit, transmits a pre-amplified signal. In addition, the active tone block is a full-fledged equalizer, which gives great customization options (adjustment of high, medium and low frequencies) to your liking. Due to high-quality sensors, the value of the quality of the tool itself goes into the background. You also become less dependent on the quality of the amplifiers and their settings, as if necessary, you can adjust the sound on your instrument even during the performance. Bass guitars with active pickups use a battery (9V one or two). Do not forget to pull out the cord when not playing, because otherwise the battery is wasted and may finally sit down at the most inopportune moment. Among bass players, there are endless disagreements about which is better - active bass or passive. But there is only one conclusion, whether it is a liability or an asset, the sound is neither bad nor good, it is just different.
Bass guitar strings are based on steel wire, which is wrapped in several layers of braid. The central vein is called the cord.
String designs:
Strings that have a braid along the entire length are the most common type of strings.
Braided strings that start after the bridge. This is done for tighter contact with the tailpiece.
Strings for guitars that do not have a headstock.
Braid material
The string material is made from different materials, and this directly affects the sound:
- Steel strings. The sound is bright, sonorous, but the sustain is much less.
- Nickel strings. Soft, velvety sound, well suited to jazz and funk.
- Strings with round braid. The most common strings with a very bright sound. They are not as practical as the rest, because. dirt quickly accumulates between the braid and, with frequent use, erase the frets on the fingerboard.
- Strings with a flat braid. Such strings do not spoil the frets and the fretboard, for fretless instruments - that's it.
- Strings with a semicircular braid. This is an ordinary round braid, but the upper layer of such a braid is turned.
- Strings with special coatings. Such strings are slippery to the touch and do not get dirty, they last much longer, but the cost is correspondingly higher. These strings include ELIXIR Nanoweb.
Choosing Bass Strings
When choosing strings, you need to consider the gauge tension and stiffness. The standard string gauge is 45-65-80-100. Larger gauge strings have a richer tone. The cost of bass strings is quite high, so they require maintenance. Wash your hands before playing and clean the strings after playing. Before a concert or recording, it is advisable to put a new set of strings.
There are also 8, 10, 12-string bass guitars, or guitars with twin strings that are tuned in unison.
Designed for playing in the bass range. It is used in many musical styles and genres as an accompanying and less often as a solo instrument. Since its introduction in the middle of the 20th century, it has become one of the most widely used bass instruments, especially in popular music.
The bass guitar part in a piece of music is called the bass part or bass line, and the bass player is called the bass guitarist or bassist.
The device, features of the bass guitar
The main scope of the bass guitar- modern popular and jazz music, in classical music the bass guitar is used less often than the usual six-string guitar. The role of the bass guitar in an ensemble also differs from that of the regular guitar - the bass guitar is more often used for accompaniment and rhythmic support than as a solo instrument.
Bass guitar sounds an octave lower, and is tuned in fourths (that is, each subsequent open string sounds a fourth lower than the previous one), so the standard tuning of the bass guitar is the same as the tuning of the four bass strings of a regular guitar, only an octave lower. The range of an ordinary four-string bass guitar is almost three octaves - from the Mi contra-octave to the Sol of the first octave.
Low-frequency sounds from the bass range do not sound well together, which causes the melodic nature of the bass parts. Harmonic guitar techniques such as playing chords, intervals, arpeggios, etc. are rarely used when playing the bass guitar.
Unlike other types of guitars bass guitar has the following design features, due to the need to get a lower sound range:
- Big sizes;
- Increased scale (864 mm versus 650 mm y);
- Thicker strings;
- Reduced number of strings (4-string bass guitars are the most common).
Historically, the bass guitar first appeared as an acoustic version, and only then was created, in contrast to the usual guitar, where everything was the other way around - first appearing and then transforming it into.
Origin, history of the bass guitar
Before the invention of the bass guitar, the largest acoustic instrument from the family acted as the main bass instrument. This instrument, along with its advantages, also had a number of characteristic drawbacks that made it difficult to widely use it in popular music ensembles of the early 20th century. The disadvantages include large size, large weight, vertical floor design, the absence of frets on the fingerboard, as well as a relatively low volume level.
The growing popularity of jazz music in the 20s and 30s of the 20th century, the spread of road transport, which increased the mobility of ensembles, as well as the emergence of electronic sound amplification technology, created a need for a bass instrument devoid of shortcomings. During this period of time, many firms producing musical instruments began experiments to create such an instrument, which, however, were not crowned with commercial success.
Among the inventions of that time, the Gibson Style J Mando bass bass mandolin (Gibson Style J Mando bass), produced by Gibson from 1912 to 1930, as well as the instrument of the American musician and entrepreneur Paul Tutmark, deserve mention. Electronic Bass), created by him in 1936 and containing many of the features of the modern bass guitar, such as a solid wood body, a horizontal position of the neck and frets.
In 1951, the American inventor and entrepreneur Leo Fender, the founder of the Fender company, released the Fender Precision Bass bass guitar, which he developed based on his Telecaster. The instrument gained recognition and quickly gained popularity. The ideas embodied in its design became the de facto standard for bass guitar manufacturers, and the expression "bass fender" for a long time became synonymous with bass guitars in general. Later, in 1960, Fender released another, improved model of the bass guitar - the Fender Jazz Bass, the popularity of which is not inferior to the Precision.
For a while, Fender dominated the bass guitar market while competing firms developed and released their own versions. One of the early versions of the bass guitar is the semi-acoustic bass guitar 500/1 (Hofner 500/1) released in 1955 by the German company Hofner, which has the shape. Later, this model became widely known due to the fact that it was chosen as the main instrument by Paul McCartney, the bass player of the Beatles. In the 1950s, many musical instrument manufacturers released their models of bass guitars, including Gibson, which released bass versions of their SG and Les Paul.
Since the 60s of the XX century with the advent of rock music, the bass guitar has become an increasingly common instrument. New varieties appear - fretless ones also appear, the number of strings increases, guitars appear with built-in active electronics, double and triple strings and without a headstock. The technique of playing the bass guitar is also developing - tapping, tightening are borrowed from the guitar, specific bass techniques also appear, such as slapping and playing with harmonics.
Bass guitar techniques
Pizzicato is the most common technique. It consists in the fact that the thumb is placed on the pickup or string, and sounds are extracted with the index and middle fingers. Some virtuoso musicians use, in addition to the index and middle fingers, the ring finger and even the little finger.
Playing as a mediator- a fairly popular technique in which the bass is played in the same way as the regular one.
Racing- game with one finger. Used in some transitions where the use of two or more fingers distracts the bass player.
Hammer-on- a technique in which the sound arises from a sharp and strong pressing of the string to the fretboard with the left hand.
Pull-off- a technique in which the sound arises from a sharp "pull" of the string with the left hand. It turns out, as it were, “moving out” from a clamped fret.
Slide is a technique also used on other guitars. After playing with the right hand, the left hand slides up and down the fretboard without releasing the string.
Slap- a technique in which the sound is extracted using two techniques: a quick strike on the string, called slap (slap) and picking up the string from below in the direction from the body of the instrument, called pop (pop). Usually these two techniques alternate when playing a line, but there are musicians who gravitate toward one technique. The resulting sound is quite sharp, ringing, well articulated. This technique is characteristic of the funk music style, but is also used in many other styles, mainly as an accent in the part, but sometimes in its pure form. An example of a slapper is American bass player Michael Balzary, known as Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Michael Balzary aka Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Double tamping- the playing technique is the same as slap, only performed in two directions with the thumb. One of the best bass players in the world, Victor Wooten, can be cited as an example of his excellent mastery of this technique.
Tapping- a special technique consisting in pressing the strings to the neck with your fingers. In this case, the pinch is not produced, and the sound comes from the strikes of the strings on the frets. Tapping can be played with one hand or two. In the case of playing with one hand, the technique is similar to the hammer. When playing with two-handed tapping, the sound is also extracted with the other hand, while the manner of extraction is also similar to the hammer, but the setting of the hand, of course, is different.
Fretless bass guitar
Fretless basses have a special sound, because due to the lack of frets, the string has to be pressed directly against the wood of the fingerboard. The string, touching the fretboard, makes a rattling "mua" sound, reminiscent of the sound.
The fretless bass allows the bass player to use musical techniques such as glissando, vibrato, and playing with quarter-tone intervals. Some bass players use both fretted and fretless basses in their performances in accordance with the compositions they perform. Although the fretless bass is often used in jazz and its varieties, it is also played by musicians in other areas, such as bassist from the now defunct metal band Death Steve DiGiorgio.
First fretless bass was made in 1961 by Bill Wyman, who removed the frets from a cheap fretted bass. The first fretless bass was put into production in 1966, and it was the Ampeg AUB-1. And Fender only started producing fretless basses in 1970. In the early 1970s, bassist Jaco Pastorius created his own fretless bass by removing the frets from a Fender jazz bass, filling in the cracks with wood putty, and coating the neck with epoxy.
Flatwound strings (which are used for double basses) are sometimes used for fretless basses, as flatwound strings are less likely to damage the fretboard. Some bass guitars have an epoxy-coated fretboard, which makes the fretboard more durable, increases sustain, and produces a brighter tone. Some fretless basses have guide lines to mark the frets, while others only have markings on the side of the neck.
Although most basses are four-string, there are also five-, six-, and even seven-string basses. Fretless basses with more than six strings also exist, but are usually made to order.
Other modifications of bass guitars
Seven-string Bas-guitar B E A D G C F(si-mi-la-re-sol-do-fa) - first appeared in 1987.
eight-string, ten- and twelve-string bass guitars - each of the strings of a conventional four or five-string bass guitar receives a pair tuned an octave higher (similar to a twelve-string acoustic guitar), which creates a special acoustic effect. On a twelve-string bass guitar, the strings do not even come in pairs, but in threes. The additional pair is most likely tuned in unison. in addition, versions were released separately, combining 4 bass and 6 guitar strings on one neck and 11 and 12-string bass guitars covering the range of the piano.
bass guitar piccolo- usually a six-string bass tuned an octave higher. This can be achieved with shorter scales or thinner strings. There are piccolo kits that can be mounted on regular basses. Unlike the bass piccolo, it does not lose that meaty sound inherent in the bass guitar, as well as the fourth tuning. One of the brightest examples of such a bass guitar can be heard on John Patitucci's album "One More Angel".
In addition, there is another type of bass guitar, specially adapted for the "tapping" technique, called stick. It has, as it were, two sets of strings, the lowest in the middle and thinner descending from the middle to the edges. It is played by striking the strings with a finger in the neck area, and not with a pinch, with both hands at the same time. This allows you to play two melodic lines at the same time, combining them rhythmically. This sounds very unusual. One of the brightest performers on this instrument is Tony Levin (King Crimson).
Other Bass Tuning Options
Different styles of music require different tonal ranges, which is why musicians tune their guitars differently. The "reference" system is mi-system E A D G(mi-la-re-sol). Scales are written from the lowest sounding (fourth) string to the highest (first).
Other tunings:
- D# G# C# F#(D-sharp-sol-sharp-to-sharp-f-sharp) - all strings are lowered by half a step.
- D G C F(D-sol-do-fa) - all strings drop one tone.
- C# F# B E(do-fa-si-mi) - all strings are lowered by one and a half tones.
- C F A# D#(do-fa-la-sharp-re-sharp) - all strings are lowered by two tones.
Below, as a rule, the strings are not lowered, because they hang out and interfere with the game.
There are also so-called Dropped tunings:
- D A D G(re-la-re-sol) - the fourth string is lowered by one tone, the rest are tuned according to the standard.
- C G C F(do-sol-do-fa) - all strings are lowered by one tone, and the fourth by two.
In punk music, the system is not lowered, but rather raised (but not always):
- F A# D# G#(fa-la-sharp-re-sharp-sol-sharp) - all strings rise by half a step.
- F# B E A(fa-sharp-si-mi-la) - all strings rise one tone.
5-string bass guitar tuning:
- H E A D G(si-mi-la-re-sol) - reference system. The fifth string is tuned to B.
- E A D G C(mi-la-re-sol-do) - an alternative tuning for a five-string bass guitar with the addition of not a lower, but a higher “do” string from a six-string set. Expands the possibilities for soloing in the upper register, without sacrificing the lower range and the inconvenience caused by the need to mute a large number of strings.
- A# D# G# C# F#(A-sharp-re-sharp-sol-sharp-to-sharp-fa-sharp) - all strings are lowered by half a step.
- A D G C F(la-re-sol-do-fa) - all strings fall one tone. The most popular bands playing in this tuning are Korn and Pantera.
Six-string bass guitar tuning:
- B E A D G C(si-mi-la-re-sol-do) - reference system. Note that the added first string is tuned to C, not B, like the second string on acoustic and electric guitars.
In 2002, the Swedish band Meshuggah began using even lower tuning (F#) and 8-string Ibanez guitars. Therefore, it became necessary to create a lower tuning for the bass guitar. Fredrik Thordendal, the band's guitarist, who recorded the bass parts on Nothing (2002), tuned the bass an octave below his guitar. Later, on the albums Catch 33 (2005) and obZen (2008), the tuning was lowered by another whole step. The 8th string of the guitar on the band's guitarists sounds like the 4th string on a standard-tuned bass. Accordingly, the bass sounds even an octave lower.
Warwick has developed a model of the 4-string bass guitar "Vampyre Dark Lord", which is commercially available, designed to be played in a lowered F# tuning. The model has an increased scale (35 inches), improved MEC J / TJ active pickups, an active three-band EQ, the body and neck of the instrument are made of special woods: ovankol body with French ash top, ovankol neck with wenge fretboard, which give instrument with a powerful sound in an ultra-low register. This model uses special Warwick Black Label strings “Dark Lord” (40250DL) stainless steel: .085″ (A), .105″ (E), .135″ (B), .175″ (F#).
Video: Bass guitar on video + sound
Thanks to these videos, you can get acquainted with the instrument, watch the real game on it, listen to its sound, feel the specifics of the technique.
In 2009, based on his Telecaster electric guitar, he responded to the requests of numerous musicians around the world. Prior to the invention of the bass guitar, its role was played by the double bass, which has a rather complex playing technique.
Bass guitar techniques
- Apoyando is the most common technique. It consists in the fact that the thumb is placed on the pickup or string, and the index and middle fingers extract sounds based on the previously played string. Some virtuoso musicians use, in addition to the index and middle fingers, the ring finger and even the little finger.
- Playing with a pick is also a fairly popular technique, in which the bass guitar is played in the same way as a regular guitar.
- Reiking - sound production with one index finger of the right hand. It comes from the English rake - "rake". In this case, the finger slides from a higher string to a lower one, thus extracting several notes in one movement. Used to speed up the game, this technique is actively used by Billy Sheehan.
- Hammer is a technique in which the sound is produced by strongly pressing the string against the fretboard with the left hand (hammer on) and then releasing it with force (pull off).
- Slide is a technique also used on other guitars. After playing with the right hand, the left hand slides up and down the fretboard without releasing the string.
- Slap is a special percussive technique. As such, it consists of two techniques - actually slap and pop. In order to slap, you need to hit the string sharply with the knuckle of your thumb. Pop is the pick of the string with the index finger of the right hand. This technique is typical for funk music style. The most famous slap virtuosos are Victor Wooten and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- Tapping is a special technique that consists in extracting sound by pressing the string with your finger against the fingerboard at the desired fret. Also known as two-handed tapping, since the sound is produced by both the right and left hands. In this case, the pluck is not produced, and the sound comes from hitting the strings on the frets, akin to the hammer technique.
Bass Tuning Options
Different styles of music require different tonal ranges, which is why musicians tune their guitars differently. The "reference" tuning is the mi tuning E A D G ( mi-la-re-sol). Scales are written from the lowest sounding (fourth) string to the highest (first).
Other tunings:
- D#G#C#F# ( D-sharp-sol-sharp-to-sharp-f-sharp
- D G C F ( re-sol-do-fa) - all strings drop one tone.
- C# F# B E ( do-fa-si-mi) - all strings are lowered by one and a half steps.
- C F A#D# ( do-fa-la-sharp-re-sharp) - all strings are lowered by two tones.
Below, as a rule, the strings are not lowered, because they hang out and interfere with the game. There are also so-called Dropped tunings:
- D A D G ( re-la-re-sol) - the fourth string is lowered by one tone, the rest are tuned according to the standard.
- C G C F ( do-sol-do-fa) - all strings are lowered by one tone, and the fourth by one more.
In punk music, the system is not lowered, but rather raised.
- F A#D#G# ( f-la-sharp-re-sharp-sol-sharp) - all strings rise half a step.
- F#B E A ( f-sharp-si-mi-la) - all strings rise one tone.
5-string bass guitar tuning
- B E A D G ( si-mi-la-re-sol) - reference system. The fifth string is tuned to B.
- A#D#G#C#F# ( A-sharp-re-sharp-sol-sharp-do-sharp-f-sharp) - all strings are lowered by half a step.
It no longer makes sense to lower the strings, because A subcontroctave and below is very rarely used in music. The exception is Fieldy, the bassist of Korn, who lowers the tuning to "A" using a five-string bass guitar (practically the name of the Ibanez K5 series) and very thick strings.
Six-string bass tuning
- B E A D G C ( si-mi-la-re-sol-do) - reference system. Note that the added first string is tuned to C, not B, like the second string on acoustic and electric guitars.
