The Birth of the Electric Bass Guitar

The Birth of the Electric Bass Guitar
By Victor Epand

The electric bass guitar is fairly easily identifiable because the overall shape is quite different to the standard electric guitar. An electric bass guitar usually has a body which is much larger in size than a standard electric guitar, and the neck is often much longer, with the scale length used for the frets much larger too. The overall size of an electric bass guitar is the most obvious distinguishing feature that makes it easy to spot, but of course its extra size can cause trouble for beginners. If you are looking at buying an electric guitar, and are considering the bass version, then it will be important to try out one such example first. The physical size may, in some cases, prohibit effective use, and a standard sized guitar may prove to be a more suitable alternative.

An electric bass guitar usually has four strings which are tuned to the same pitch as the double bass, or in some cases the strings are simply tuned to be one octave lower than the lowest four strings of a standard guitar.

For the last fifty years, the electric bass guitar has been the instrument of choice for producing the bass notes in most popular music, causing a dramatic decline in the popularity of the double bass for such music. The electric bass guitar has proven to be a very popular instrument, not only for use within popular music, but as an instrument in itself, often used for solo performances. In particular, jazz, funk and rock styles often feature an electric bass guitar solo, or prominent performance within a piece.

It was actually back in the 1930s that the electric bass guitar was born, with Paul Tutmarc's invention - originally referred to as a fiddle. It comprised of four bass strings, had a body and a fret board - and was played horizontally. Named an electronic bass fiddle it proved to be very popular, and because its manner of playing was more similar to that of a guitar, it meant that it was easier to pick up by guitarists than a fiddle would have been for them.

Although Tutmarc's fiddle marked the dawn of the electric bass guitar, it took about twenty years for the idea to take hold, and be developed by Leo Fender before it became a popular instrument. Fender created the Precision Bass, and took the rough form of a Telecaster with a single coil pickup. With four steel strings the instrument became popular with many well known bands and groups of the fifties, and it was at this point that the bass guitar became popular worldwide.

Following closely behind Fender was Gibson, whose bass guitars were generally smaller then fender's, and incorporated a humbucker pickup rather than the single coils. Gibson's most famous creation was the Thunderbird with a 34 inch scale, and duel humbucking pickups located halfway between the neck of the guitar and the bridge - a more usual position.

Today, electric bass guitars can be bought in a range of styles and shapes, although still generally larger than the standard electric guitars. For complete flexibility, however, you could always consider a duel neck guitar - with one being a bass, and the other a standard six string guitar!

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for electric bass guitar, bass guitar, sheet music, guitar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Birth-of-the-Electric-Bass-Guitar&id=1610653

How a 5-String Bass Guitar Works

How a 5-String Bass Guitar Works
By Keith Dean

Even though we mainly address issues concerning guitar players in these columns, as we grow with our skills on the guitar, and eventually start making music with other musicians, it's helpful to become aware of some of the nuances of the other instrumentation we may encounter in a group situation.

One such instrument is the bass guitar. The bass has the responsibility in a group or band, of carrying the bottom end of the rhythm section.

The bass player works closely with the drummer, and a top notch rhythm section is one in which the bass player and drummer work seamlessly together, nearly as one unit.

On a normal 4-string bass guitar, the four strings are tuned just like the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings on the guitar. The difference being that the bass strings are much "thicker" in diameter and gauge, and are tuned to a lower "octave" than a guitar string.

The strings on a 4-string bass are tuned like this:

E A D G

Most bass guitars are of the 4-string variety, but an ever increasing model that has been in existence for quite a while now, is the 5-string bass.

On a 5-string bass, and extra string is added to the low end of the bass guitar. In most cases, this string is of a large diameter thickness, and is tuned to a low "B".

This tuning allows the bassist to extend the low end range of the instrument beyond that of a normal 4-string bass, which can add a whole new dimension to the music.

Then notes on a 5-string bass are tuned like this:

B E A D G

Although this extra "B" string would obviously add some new tonal possibilities for the bassist in the key of "B" - one of the more common ways the extra 5th string is used is when playing in the key of "D".

On the extra 5th string, the "D" note is located on the 3rd fret of the new 5th string. With a normal 4-string bass, the player is limited to the open D string (or the 5th fret of the A string), to give them the lowest possible bass note when playing in the key of D.

Now, with a 5-string, the bassists can "reach down" an octave from that and add some serious bottom end to songs in the common key of "D".

Bass players that are used to a 4-string bass, and then attempt to play a 5-string bass, sometimes face a challenge making the transition. The reason is, that they are used to the "E" string being closest to them when playing, but now that is replaced by the new "B" string, so a big adjustment must be made.

But, in the end, most bass players find that the increased choices in range and tonality are well worth going through a brief period of adjustment.

Over 40, 50, 60? For Free Video Guitar Lessons designed for Active Adults go to http://www.adultguitarlessons.com/amember/free_lessons-1225ez.php

Keith Dean is founder of http://www.AdultGuitarLessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for Jason Aldean, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Dean
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-a-5-String-Bass-Guitar-Works&id=2775050