BASS

Here are tips for those of you who want to buy or pick some kind of bass based on the number of strings.

Any kind of musical instrument, have a range or range tones. So also the bass instrument. The range of tones produced bass instrument can be affected by several factors.

First, is the sum of the fretboard contained on bass instrument. The more the number of the fretboard on the bass, the more range of tones produced by the bass. Amount of fret bass instrument usually amount to 22 fret or 24 fret, but there are some who fret bass was only about 20, eg Precission classic Fender bass. There are also a number fretnya some bass over 24 fret, for example, contained the Tune bass Maniac, which fretnya number 25.

Second, is the number of strings contained in the bass instrument. In this case, Bass guitar is divided into a number according to the number of strings, namely:

4 strings
Bass standard configuration with the open string tuning: EADG (low to high).

5 strings
Just like a standard 4 string bass, it's just that there are extra low B string on the fourth string (the E string). Open string tuning its configuration: B E A D G Bass with 5 strings are usually used to reach a lower tone than a standard bass.

6 strings
Just like bass 5 string, there's just extra high C string under the first string (G string). Configuration stringnya open tuning: E ​​A D G B C. Bass with 6 strings are usually used to reach the lower tones and higher than a standard bass.

7 strings
Bass with a string of more than 6 may very rarely be encountered. For bass with 7 strings, open string tuning its configuration: BEADGC F. Just like the 6 string bass, there's just stringing high F under the strings G. 7 string bass function equal to 6 string bass, only in this bass tone too high can be "exploited." Bass like this produced by Conklin, who is a specialist manufacturer custom bass.

8 strings
This bass has the same tuning configurations with standard 4 string bass, just on each - each duplicated strings with string tone an octave higher.

10 strings
Configuration has the same tuning with standard 5 string bass, just on each - each chord strings are also coupled with a tone an octave higher.

12 strings
Has a configuration similar to tuning a standard 4 string bass, but on each string doubled 3, with two strings an octave higher or one octave strings with + height of the strings again with his fifth pitch (E to B, A to E, D to A , and G to D). Includes rare bass, produced by Hamer and Warwick.


Some players still rely on the professional bass 4 string bass as a weapon flagship (Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Flea, Arya Setyadi, etc.). However, there are also some other bass players who prefer bass multistring (double bass strings), and made the hallmark of their game.

Examples of players who use the bass 5 string, such as: Nathan East, players are excerpts session bass player fills many albums - albums renowned musicians, and Stanley Clarke, who also created the slap and pop technique that became known as the funky thumb. For rock music no name - the name of a kind of Jason Newsted (Metallica), Dave Ellefson (Megadeath), and Rex Brown.

Meanwhile, 6 string bass is a "weapon" for a couple of bass players, such as John Pattitucci, and John Myung (Dream Theater). There are times when the 6 string bass is felt less, then some of the other players using 7 string bass for Meng "exploitation" tone even more, especially in doing a solo improvisation.

If the bass five, six, and seven-string tone intended to reach a lower or higher, then the bass multistring made in order to produce dual tone sound.

Bass is a bass like that in the first eight strings are played by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) to get a sound like a bass and rhythm guitars are played simultaneously. It is needed by the band because they only have a guitar player that will stop playing rhythm guitar as he played lead / solo.

Similarly, having a ten-string bass, the function also produce sounds such as bass and rhythm guitars are played together. Sometimes, a function that was not enough, the sound of the rhythm guitar produced only consists of a single tone. Meanwhile, if you want to match the actual rhythm guitar, the sound is minimal is 2 tone (by playing power chords).

Thus, bassist Doug Pinnick sorts (King's X) was put on the twelve string bass sound like a bass who has played in unison with the rhythm guitar plays power chords. Just like Led Zeppelin, King's X has only a guitar player, so Doug had the same reasons with John Paul Jones on bass multistring use.

Apart from some types of bass above, for us beginners or intermediate bass player, you should note again the functions and needs of the bass will we choose. We have to adjust the function of the bass to the needs of the music we play, whether we choose later bass is necessary or not? Or just for styles - an only?

First, a time when I was just learning the bass, and seeing someone using string bass strings 5 ​​or 6, giving the impression that the player is good at. In fact, not necessarily like that right? Not necessarily well in the game the player uses all the tones and the bass strings are there.