Guitar, bass
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The Bass Guitar is lower in pitch than the electric guitar on which it is based. It was designed to provide double bass players with a portable, fretted instrument which could be amplified and easily played. The bass guitar has two important roles in a band : it plays bass notes to support the melody, and, along with the drums, it provides a rhythmic pulse that drives the band along.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| Three octaves. |
| Material |
| A mixture of wood, metal, and plastics. |
| Size |
| About 3 ft 8 in (1.10 m) long. |
| Origins |
| The bass guitar was invented by an American, Leo Fender, and first marketed in 1951. It was soon very popular with country and western players. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| As well as playing different notes on the bass guitar, you can change the sound by playing it through amplifiers, fuzz boxes, echo units, and a variety of other gadgets. |
