A
bass player, or
bassist is a
musician who plays a
bass instrument such as a
double bass,
bass guitar,
keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a
tuba or
sousaphone. Different
musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments. Since the 1960s, the electric bass is the standard bass instrument for
rock and roll,
jazz fusion (and occasionally other forms of jazz),
heavy metal,
country,
reggae and
pop music. The double bass is the standard bass instrument for
classical music,
bluegrass, and Swing-era and Bebop-era
jazz. Low brass instruments such as the tuba or sousaphone are the standard bass instrument in
Dixieland and New Orleans-style jazz bands.
Despite the associations of different bass instruments with certain genres, there are exceptions. Some 1990s and 2000s rock and pop bands use a double bass, such as
Barenaked Ladies;
Indie band
The Decemberists; and
punk rock/
psychobilly groups such as
The Living End,
Nekromantix,
The Horrorpops, and
Tiger Army. Some fusion jazz groups use a lightweight, stripped-down
electric upright bass rather than a double bass. Some composers of modern art music use the electric bass in a
chamber music setting. Some jazz big bands use electric bass. Some fusion, R&B and house music groups use
synth bass or keyboard bass rather than electric bass. Some Dixieland bands use double bass or electric bass instead of a tuba. In some jazz groups and
jam bands, the basslines are played by a
Hammond organ player, who uses the bass
pedal keyboard or the lower manual for the low notes.
Electric bass players
Electric bassists play the
bass guitar. In most rock, pop, metal and country 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
chord progression being used in a given song. In addition,
pedal tones (repeated or sustained single notes),
ostinatos, and bass
riffs are also used as bass lines. While most electric bass players rarely play
chords (two or more notes all sounded at the same time), chords are used in some styles, especially
jazz fusion,
progressive rock or
technical death metal.
Double bass players
Classical double bass players
- John Moses (1995-present)
Jazz double bass players
Lists of double bass players
