Bassist
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A bassist is a musician who plays a double bass or electric bass (also referred to as bass guitar). Certain musical genres tend to be associated with each of these instruments. Since the 1960s, the electric bass is the standard bass instrument for rock and roll or pop music. The double bass is the standard bass instrument for classical music and Swing-era and Bebop-era jazz music. However, there are exceptions in both cases. Some 1990s and 2000s rock, pop, and punk/psychobilly bands use a double bass, such as the Barenaked Ladies, Tiger Army, The Living End, the Horrorpops, and the HellRazors. Some composers of modern art music use the electric bass in a chamber music setting, and some jazz big bands use electric bass.
Electric
Influential electric bass players in the jazz, rock and roll, and pop genres, include Geezer Butler,Steve DiGiorgio, Les Claypool, Paul McCartney, David Diamond (The Kings), John Giblin, Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, John Entwistle, Mark King, Jason Newsted, Lemmy Kilmister, Bootsy Collins, Geddy Lee, Jack Bruce, Marcus Miller, John Myung, Steve Harris, Sting, Cliff Burton, Victor Wooten, John Paul Jones, Flea and Krist Novoselic. Some electric bass players focus on playing their instrument during performances, such as John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), John Entwistle (The Who) or Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones). On the other hand, some bass guitarists move and dance or "head-bang" while playing, such as Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Marcus Lutar (Chocolate Subway) and bassists from metal bands such as Lamb of God and Drowning Pool.
Bassists play the bass line, which is a single low-pitched monophonic line of music. In most jazz, rock, and pop genres, the bass line outlines the harmony of the music being performed, while simultaneously indicating the rhythmic pulse. In addition, there are different standard bass line types for different genres and types of song (e.g. blues ballad, fast swing, etc.). Bass lines often emphasize the root, third, and fifth of the chords of the music. In addition, pedal tones (a repeated or sustained single note), ostinatos, and bass riffs are also used as bass lines. Often in in genres such as heavy metal music bassists have a more complex and interesting bassline.
Notable classical double bass players of historical importance
- Domenico Dragonetti (1763-1846) Virtuoso, composer, conductor
- Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889) Virtuoso, composer, conductor
- Franz Simandl (1840-1912) Virtuoso, composer
- Edouard Nanny (1872-1943) Virtuoso, composer
- Serge Koussevitzky (1874–1951) Conductor, virtuoso, composer
Also
- See List of contemporary classical double bass players
- See List of jazz bassists, which includes both double bass and electric bass players.
- See List of double bass players in other popular genres
Of interest
- [BassPlaza.com] - Thousands of bassplayers listed.
- [Five-string.co.uk] - Find Session, Freelance & dep / step-in bass players in the UK. Also, home site of session bassist Greg Mudd
Notable classical double bass players of historical importance
- Domenico Dragonetti (1763-1846) Virtuoso, composer, conductor
- Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889) Virtuoso, composer, conductor
- Franz Simandl (1840-1912) Virtuoso, composer
- Edouard Nanny (1872-1943) Virtuoso, composer
- Serge Koussevitzky (1874–1951) Conductor, virtuoso, composer
Also
- See List of contemporary classical double bass players
- See List of jazz bassists, which includes both double bass and electric bass players.
- See List of double bass players in other popular genres
Of interest
- [BassPlaza.com] - Thousands of bassplayers listed.
- [Five-string.co.uk] - Find Session, Freelance & dep / step-in bass players in the UK. Also, home site of session bassist Greg Mudd
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