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{{short description|Electric bass guitar with more than four strings}}
The '''Extended-Range Bass,''' ("ERB") as a term, refers to an electric ] with more range (usually meaning more strings, but sometimes additional frets are added for more range) than the "standard" 4-string bass guitar. In practical usage, however, the term is often applied more to basses with more than 5 strings, including 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and even some homemade 15-string basses.<ref></ref> Bass guitars tuned one octave lower than a "standard" four-string instrument are also considered an extended-range bass. "Extended range-bass" does not refer to ].
{{Use American English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2018}}
An '''extended-range bass''' is an electric ] with a wider frequency range than a standard-tuned four-string bass guitar.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Bass player presents the fretless bass |date=2008 |publisher=Backbeat Books |last=Jisi |first=Chris |isbn=9780879309251 |location=New York |oclc=226281048}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Bass encyclomedia : how to see the whole fretboard and easily play its many chord, scale, and arpeggio fragments |first=Mike |last=Overly |date=2003 |publisher=12 Tone Music Pub |isbn=0965808661 |edition=1st |location=Dayton, OH |oclc=55109256}}</ref>

==Terminology==
One way that a bass can be considered ''extended-range'' is to use a mechanical ], a special ] that includes a mechanical lever to allow for instant re-tuning during the live performance. When the player toggles the lever, the pitch of the string drops by a pre-set interval. A common use of detuners is to drop the low E to a low D. Detuners are more rarely used on other strings. An exception to this is ], who plays a bass equipped with a mechanical detuner on every string, especially useful for enabling access to a wider range number of ]s.

Another way to get an extended range is to add strings. The most common type of bass guitar with more than four strings is the five-string bass. Five-string basses often have a low-B string, extending the instrument's lower range. Less commonly, five-string instruments add a high C-string, extending the higher range. Less commonly, the six-string bass guitar is used. Most commonly, six-string basses add a low B and a high C, extending the range on the low end and the higher register, although other tunings are used. Basses have been made with seven, eight, nine, or even fifteen strings with extremely wide necks and custom pickups. These too, are considered extended-range basses.

]'s 'Hyperbass' by ] and ]'s main ] ] are both four string basses but with necks that exceed the standard 24 frets (20 to 24 being the 'standard' for most commercially available bass guitars). Les Claypool's piccolo bass has 29 frets whereas Manring's Hyperbass is a fretless instrument (however if it were a fretted bass it too would also exceed the 24th fret).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://basgitaarshop.nl/basgitaar-blog/basloopjes/|title=Tien suppervette basloopjes. Puur genieten!|last=Jonathan|first=Rosseu|date=2018-05-05|work=BasgitaarShop|access-date=2018-05-15|language=nl-NL}}</ref>

Extended-range bass does not refer to bass guitars with double or triple courses of strings such as the ] or ], both of which could be considered as standard four string basses but with the addition of piccolo bass strings, tuned in octaves. These strings are played in unison with the bass strings, thereby producing a natural ].

The ] Ashula bass guitar, though having seven strings, would also not be considered as an extended-range bass because the first four strings - G D A (low)E - lie over a section of the fretboard that has frets whereas the last three strings - a lower G, D and A - lie over a fretless part of the same fretboard.


== History == == History ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2018}}
The ] Longhorn and the Fender ] were tuned EADGBE and were seen as guitars that were tuned an octave lower than standard guitar tuning. In 1975, ] asked ] to build him a six-string ] tuned (from low to high) BEADGC. Jackson's bass extended the range of the bass both lower and higher than a four-string. Though Jackson initially received much criticism for the new instrument, the deep sounds of the low "B" string become a standard in many genres including metal, R&B, funk, and gospel.
In 1956, ] introduced their six-string bass (tuned EADGBE, an octave below a six-string guitar). Fender brought out the ] in 1961, also tuned EADGBE, an octave below a regular six-string guitar . In 1965, Fender introduced the first five-string bass guitar, the ], however unlike the modern 5 string, it had a high C instead of a low B, although, with the total number of frets on a Bass V being fifteen, the total range of the instrument was identical to a twenty-fret four string Fender bass.


In 1974, ] asked ] to build him a six-string bass guitar tuned (from low to high) BEADGC, which he called a "]." Due to the close string spacing utilized to accommodate available pickups at the time, Jackson was unhappy with the instrument due to difficult playability. Carl Thompson also finished a five-string bass tuned BEADG in May 1976. And California builder ] delivered their first 5-string with a low B to ] in 1976.
In the late 1980s, ] Michael Tobias made a bass with more than 6, single course strings, a custom order 7 string bass as a custom order for bassist Garry Goodman, which was tuned BEADGCF. Since that time, luthiers have been adding strings to their custom basses. Since 1995, when luthier Bill Conklin made a 9-string bass for Bill "Buddha" Dickens, bass builders have been adding strings. Subsequently, other luthiers built instruments with 8,9,10 and 11 strings. Over time, custom bass builders have added both lower strings (such as F# and C#) and higher strings (such as F and Bb) to the six-string bass guitar.


In the late 1980s, ] Michael Tobias made the first bass with more than six single-course strings, a custom-order seven-string bass for bassist Garry Goodman, tuned BEADGCF.
Garry Goodman's Adler 12-string bass with 36 frets tuned in fourths spans 8 octaves and has the same range as a 97 note ]. ] became the second bassist with an extended range bass of this range in early 2006 with the finished construction of his JP 12 string. This bass does not have as many notes as the Adler 12. Adler began crafting a C to C 13 string bass in 2005. Jean recently announced that a 13-string bass is being built for him. As the low C# requires subwoofers to hear, it is presumed that the 13th string will be a high Db, thus making the bass come full circle (C# -> Db ). Some insist that notes below 20 Hertz are inaudible to the human ear. Garry Goodman designed the Adler 12-string to have C0 as its lowest open string. The idea was to match the range of the Bösendorfer model #290 grand piano. The Adler 12-string successfully matched the 8 octave range of the #290. Garry Goodman's concept of having 13 strings was to add the C5 string to add additional note positions. He has recently developed new strings that give the 12- and 13-string instruments strings with consistent tone quality. After much experimentation with several G#00 strings, Goodman decided to keep the lowest pitch C0 and expand the number of note positions in the upper range. His latest generation of bass strings do not require any special speakers to be heard clearly. The Adler 12-string was a prototype that gives the guitar the same range as the piano. Garry Goodman developed the A440 string for guitar with scale lengths up to 31" and the G 392Hz string for bass guitars with scale lengths up to 34" long. These strings created the " High A standard" tuning expanding the range of bass guitars, guitar and other instruments such as the Violin. Yves Carbonne conceived the first 10 and 12 string fretless sub-bass guitars. These extended range sub-basses, Legend X YC and Legend XII YC, were built by luthier from Barcelona Jerzy Drozd. The 12 string Legend XII YC uses a new B string tuned at 15,4 hertzs. <ref>http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/General/bass-musician-magazine-masthead-detail.asp?directory-id=807599636 Bass Musician Magazine: Yves Carbonne</ref>


In 1988, Atlanta luthier Bill Hatcher made a seven string bass tuned EADGBEA (the lowest six strings follow standard six-string-guitar intervals, EADGBE, down 1 octave, and the seventh string an added fourth above). A later tuning was BEADGBE, following standard seven-string-guitar tuning (EADGBE plus a low B). He later narrowed the neck down to convert it to a six-string instrument, tuned EADGBE.
While the Extended-Range Bass is built using the same basic design as the ], some performers view it as an entirely new instrument, since its expanded range permits high-register melodies, four- and five-note chords, and other techniques.


In 1995, luthier Bill Conklin made a nine-string bass for ], and, in 1999, luthier Alfonso Iturra made an eight-string bass for ].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://view.joomag.com/bass-musician-magazine-special-august-2013-latin-issue/0851474001431452899?short |title=Igor Saavedra |magazine=Bass Musician |date=August 2013 |author=Raul Amador |postscript=, 6th Anniversary: The Latin Bass Issue. |pages=60–77}}</ref> German bass luthier Warwick built several custom fretless seven-string Thumb NT basses (F#<sub>0</sub>–B<sub>0</sub>–E<sub>1</sub>–A<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>–C<sub>3</sub>) for ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Amador |first=Valery |url=https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2011/07/warwick-releases-jeroen-paul-thesselings-7-string-fretless-bass/ |title=Warwick releases Jeroen Paul Thesseling's 7-string fretless bass |publisher=Bassmusicianmagazine.com |date=2011-07-01 |access-date=2018-05-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Kevin |url=http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/11/17/ultra-low-an-interview-with-jeroen-paul-thesseling/ |title=Ultra Low: An Interview with Jeroen Paul Thesseling |publisher=Notreble.com |date=2011-11-17 |access-date=2018-05-24}}</ref> Subsequently, other luthiers built instruments with up to twelve strings, adding both lower strings (such as F# and C#) and higher strings (such as F and B♭) to the six-string bass guitar.
Mystery company Tennessee (known for making unique multi necked/stringed instruments of poor quality) have made a 15 string bass*, although the instrument appears to be more for show rather than actual playing, as the neck is very large, possibly rendering it impossible to play. Because the company Tennessee is so obscure (no apparent website or address and very little web information) not much is known about the bass.


== Construction and tuning== == Construction and tuning ==
Construction of basses with more than 7 strings has largely been the realm of boutique ]s, with the exception of several production-run models including Galveston 7- and 8-string basses and the recently discontinued Conklin Groove-Tools line of 7-string basses. Some extended-range basses are tailor-made to a player's specific preferences, including much variation in scale length, appearance, and electronics. Due to the fact that the scale length of a typical bass guitar (34" or 35") produces excessive tension on the highest strings of extended-range basses, many builders opt to use ]' fanned-fret system to achieve a variable-scale instrument and prevent these strings from breaking. Construction of basses with more than seven strings has largely been the realm of luthiers. Some extended-range basses are built to a player's specific preferences, including variation in scale length, appearance, and electronics. Due to the fact that the scale length of a typical bass guitar ({{cvt|34|-|35|in|cm|disp=comma}}) produces excessive tension on the highest strings of extended-range basses, a builder may use ] to achieve a variable-scale instrument.


Usually, extended-range basses are tuned in 4ths, and the "most common" method of tuning is to tune 7-string bass to F#BEADGC or BEADGCF, an 8-string to F#BEADGCF, a 9-string to F#BEADGCFBb, a 10-string to C#F#BEADGCFBb or F#BEADGCFBbEb, an 11-string to C#F#BEADGCFBbEb or F#BEADGCFBbEbAb, and a 12-string to C#F#BEADGCFBbEbAb. Some players use extra low strings, or vice versa. Usually, extended-range basses are tuned in fourths. Five-string basses are normally tuned B-E-A-D-G, with a lower B string in addition to the four strings of a normal bass guitar. Some musicians such as jazz bassist ] tune the five-string bass to E-A-D-G-C, with a high C-string instead of the low B-string.


Alternatively, tuning a standard four-string bass guitar in fifths, C-G-D-A, extends the range by six notes (four lower, two higher).
== Playing styles ==
{{Copyedit|date=October 2007}}


The most common tunings for a seven-string bass are F{{music|#}} to C or B to F; an eight-string F{{music|#}} to F; a nine-string F{{music|#}} to B{{music|b}}; a ten-string C{{music|#}} to B{{music|b}} or F{{music|#}} to E{{music|b}}; an eleven-string C{{music|#}} to E{{music|b}} or F{{music|#}} to A{{music|b}}; and a twelve-string C{{music|#}} to A{{music|b}} or B to G{{music|b}}.
The techniques used to play the extended-range bass are closely related to those used for basses, including finger plucking, slapping, popping, and tapping. A ] is very rarely used.


== Playing styles ==
The upper strings of an extended-range bass allow bassists to adopt playing styles of the electric guitar. One such style is the practice of "]", or playing a rhythmic chordal accompaniment to an improvised solo. The increased polyphony of extended-range basses allows for voicings of five or more notes, as well as wider voicings such as "drop 3", "drop 2+4" and "spreads." Walking a bassline and comping at the same time is also possible, which is useful in jazz combos lacking a chordal instrument, or in accompaniment of a chordal instrument during their solo. Two bassists notable for adopting this style are Todd Johnson and ].
The techniques used to play the extended-range bass are virtually identical to those used for standard 4-string basses, including pizzicato (finger plucking), use of a ] (a.k.a. 'pick'), ], and ].


The upper strings of an extended-range bass allow bassists to adopt playing styles of the electric guitar. One such style is the practice of '']'', or playing a rhythmic chordal accompaniment to an improvised lead. The increased ] of extended-range basses allows for voicings (chords, arpeggios) of five or more notes, as well as wider voicings such as "drop 3", "drop 2+4" and "spreads." ] and comping at the same time is also possible, which is useful in jazz combos lacking a chordal instrument, or in accompaniment of a chordal instrument during their lead portion.
The added strings of the extended-range bass compound the muting problems that many bassists encounter. Because of the sympathetic vibration of the bass, a plucked note will cause that same note (and its octaves) to sound on all strings if left unmuted. Extended-range bassists often turn to hairbands or advancing muting techniques, including the "floating thumb" technique (allowing the thumb of the plucking hand to mute lower strings), to achieve a good sound.


The added strings of the extended-range bass compound the muting problems that many bassists encounter.{{explain|date=February 2019}} Because of sympathetic vibration, a plucked note makes that same note (and its octaves) sound on all strings that are unmuted. Extended-range bassists often turn to soft items such as hairbands to dampen the sympathetic vibrations, or adopt advanced muting techniques, including the "floating thumb" technique (using the thumb of the plucking hand to mute lower strings) to achieve a good sound.
Many extended-range bassists, because of the extreme range of their instruments, choose to practice a technique called "two-handed tapping," in which the player uses both hands on the fretboard to press down the strings and creates sound with both hands (similar to the way one plays a ]). By using both hands, extended-range bassists can create sophisticated chordings, harmonies, melodies, and ] music.


The role that the extended-range bass plays in music is still largely a matter of situation and personal preference. Many extended-range bassists play the ] part in bands, but many also perform their instrument in a solo setting, often using advanced techniques such as two-handed tapping or chording. Still others are exploring the extended-range bass's potential through the art of ] by layering complex bass parts, melodies, and harmonies on top of each other. The role that the extended-range bass plays in music is still largely a matter of situation and personal preference. Many extended-range bassists play the ] part in bands, and may also perform in a solo setting, using advanced techniques such as two-handed tapping or chording.


== Notable players == == Notable players ==

Notable extended-range bassists include:
===Jazz===
* ]
{{div col|colwidth=21em}}
* ]<ref></ref>
* ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stevebaileybass.com/ |title=Steve Bailey – That Bass Player Dude<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=November 5, 2007 |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014004251/http://www.stevebaileybass.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Jean Baudin of ]
* ]<ref></ref>
* ] * ]
* ]<ref></ref>
* Chaoth of ]
* ]<ref></ref> * ]<ref></ref>
* ]
* ]<ref></ref>
* ]
* ]<ref></ref>
* ]<ref></ref>
* Franck Hermanny of ]
* ]
* ]<ref></ref>
* ]<ref></ref>
* ]
* ]
* ] during certain ] songs
* ]
* ] of ]
* ]<ref>www.dreamtheater.net</ref>
* ]<ref></ref> * ]<ref></ref>
* ]<ref></ref>
* ]
* ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2013/09/19/bass-of-the-week-esperanza-spaldings-south-paw-fretless-5-string/ |title=Bass of the Week: Esperanza Spalding's South Paw Fretless 5-String |author=Kevin Johnson |website=No Treble |date=September 19, 2013}}</ref>
* ]
* ]
{{div col end}}


===Country===
== External links ==
* ]
* is a website dedicated to all aspects of the extended-range bass guitar, including audio samples, photos, and forums.
* ]
* Stewart McKinsey's article,
* This site includes numerous scale and chord charts for 5 and 6 string basses.


== References == ===R&B===
* ]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2016/11/erb-legend-al-caldwell-bass-musician-magazine-december-2016-issue/ |title=ERB Legend Al Caldwell |date=December 2016 |magazine=Bass Musician |access-date=2018-05-28}}</ref>
{{reflist}}
* ] (a.k.a. Thundercat)

===Rock===
{{div col|colwidth=21em}}
* ] of ]<ref></ref>
* ] of ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}} and {{nowrap|]}}
* ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ]
* ] of ] and ]
* Shunsuke Matsumoto of ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}}
* ], session musician from ]
* ], session musician from The Wrecking Crew
* ] of ] and ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ]
* ] of ]
* Trigger Warning of ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}} and {{nowrap|]}}
{{div col end}}

===Metal===
====Five strings, primary====
{{div col|colwidth=21em}}
* Eugene Abdukhanov of ]
* ] of ]
* ] formerly of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ] and ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}} and {{nowrap|]}}
* ] formerly of ]
* ]<ref></ref>
* Marco Coti Zelati of ]
* Jack Gibson of ]
* ] of ] and ]
* ] formerly of ]
* Derek Engemann of ]
* Ryan Farrell of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ]
* ] formerly of ]
* ] of ] and formerly of ]
* Steve "Fuzz" Kmak formerly of ]
* Mike Flores of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ]
* Ted Lundström of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ] and ]
* ] of ]
* ] formerly of ] and ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ]
* ] of ] and formerly of ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ] and {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ] and Fight the Fury
{{div col end}}

====Six or more strings, primary====
{{div col|colwidth=21em}}
* Adam Biggs of ]
* ] of ]
* Alyson Blake Dellinger of ] & ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}}
* Charles "Nefarious" Lescewicz of ]
* ] of ]
* ] formerly of ]
* Connor Green of ]
* Danny Hauser of ]
* Dominic "Forest" Lapointe of {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ]
* Hugo Doyon-Karout of {{nowrap|]}}
* Jared Smith of ]
* ] formerly of ]
* Jean Baudin of {{nowrap|Nuclear Rabbit}} and {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ]
* ] of {{nowrap|]}}
* ] of ] and ]
* ] of ]
* ] of ]
* Makis "Baron Blood" Kanakaris formerly of ]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metaltalk.net/necromantia-release-a-fitting-epitaph-for-baron-blood.php | title=Necromantia release a fitting epitaph for Baron Blood | date=October 6, 2021 }}</ref>
* ] of ]
* Sean Martinez of ]
* ] formerly of {{nowrap|]}}
{{div col end}}

== External links ==
* Stewart McKinsey's article,
* This site includes numerous scale and chord charts for five and six string basses.
* - A documentary about Wyn Guitars and the creation of many extended-range basses.


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Extended-Range Bass}}
] ]

]

Latest revision as of 20:49, 15 December 2024

Electric bass guitar with more than four strings

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Find sources: "Extended-range bass" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

An extended-range bass is an electric bass guitar with a wider frequency range than a standard-tuned four-string bass guitar.

Terminology

One way that a bass can be considered extended-range is to use a mechanical detuner, a special tuning machine (head) that includes a mechanical lever to allow for instant re-tuning during the live performance. When the player toggles the lever, the pitch of the string drops by a pre-set interval. A common use of detuners is to drop the low E to a low D. Detuners are more rarely used on other strings. An exception to this is Michael Manring, who plays a bass equipped with a mechanical detuner on every string, especially useful for enabling access to a wider range number of string harmonics.

Another way to get an extended range is to add strings. The most common type of bass guitar with more than four strings is the five-string bass. Five-string basses often have a low-B string, extending the instrument's lower range. Less commonly, five-string instruments add a high C-string, extending the higher range. Less commonly, the six-string bass guitar is used. Most commonly, six-string basses add a low B and a high C, extending the range on the low end and the higher register, although other tunings are used. Basses have been made with seven, eight, nine, or even fifteen strings with extremely wide necks and custom pickups. These too, are considered extended-range basses.

Michael Manring's 'Hyperbass' by Zon guitars and Les Claypool's main Carl Thompson piccolo bass are both four string basses but with necks that exceed the standard 24 frets (20 to 24 being the 'standard' for most commercially available bass guitars). Les Claypool's piccolo bass has 29 frets whereas Manring's Hyperbass is a fretless instrument (however if it were a fretted bass it too would also exceed the 24th fret).

Extended-range bass does not refer to bass guitars with double or triple courses of strings such as the eight-string bass guitar or twelve-string bass, both of which could be considered as standard four string basses but with the addition of piccolo bass strings, tuned in octaves. These strings are played in unison with the bass strings, thereby producing a natural chorus effect.

The Ibanez Ashula bass guitar, though having seven strings, would also not be considered as an extended-range bass because the first four strings - G D A (low)E - lie over a section of the fretboard that has frets whereas the last three strings - a lower G, D and A - lie over a fretless part of the same fretboard.

History

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In 1956, Danelectro introduced their six-string bass (tuned EADGBE, an octave below a six-string guitar). Fender brought out the Fender Bass VI in 1961, also tuned EADGBE, an octave below a regular six-string guitar . In 1965, Fender introduced the first five-string bass guitar, the Fender Bass V, however unlike the modern 5 string, it had a high C instead of a low B, although, with the total number of frets on a Bass V being fifteen, the total range of the instrument was identical to a twenty-fret four string Fender bass.

In 1974, Anthony Jackson asked Carl Thompson to build him a six-string bass guitar tuned (from low to high) BEADGC, which he called a "contrabass guitar." Due to the close string spacing utilized to accommodate available pickups at the time, Jackson was unhappy with the instrument due to difficult playability. Carl Thompson also finished a five-string bass tuned BEADG in May 1976. And California builder Alembic delivered their first 5-string with a low B to Jimmy Johnson in 1976.

In the late 1980s, luthier Michael Tobias made the first bass with more than six single-course strings, a custom-order seven-string bass for bassist Garry Goodman, tuned BEADGCF.

In 1988, Atlanta luthier Bill Hatcher made a seven string bass tuned EADGBEA (the lowest six strings follow standard six-string-guitar intervals, EADGBE, down 1 octave, and the seventh string an added fourth above). A later tuning was BEADGBE, following standard seven-string-guitar tuning (EADGBE plus a low B). He later narrowed the neck down to convert it to a six-string instrument, tuned EADGBE.

In 1995, luthier Bill Conklin made a nine-string bass for Bill "Buddha" Dickens, and, in 1999, luthier Alfonso Iturra made an eight-string bass for Igor Saavedra. German bass luthier Warwick built several custom fretless seven-string Thumb NT basses (F#0–B0–E1–A1–D2–G2–C3) for Jeroen Paul Thesseling. Subsequently, other luthiers built instruments with up to twelve strings, adding both lower strings (such as F# and C#) and higher strings (such as F and B♭) to the six-string bass guitar.

Construction and tuning

Construction of basses with more than seven strings has largely been the realm of luthiers. Some extended-range basses are built to a player's specific preferences, including variation in scale length, appearance, and electronics. Due to the fact that the scale length of a typical bass guitar (34–35 in, 86–89 cm) produces excessive tension on the highest strings of extended-range basses, a builder may use slanted or fanned frets to achieve a variable-scale instrument.

Usually, extended-range basses are tuned in fourths. Five-string basses are normally tuned B-E-A-D-G, with a lower B string in addition to the four strings of a normal bass guitar. Some musicians such as jazz bassist Steve Swallow tune the five-string bass to E-A-D-G-C, with a high C-string instead of the low B-string.

Alternatively, tuning a standard four-string bass guitar in fifths, C-G-D-A, extends the range by six notes (four lower, two higher).

The most common tunings for a seven-string bass are F♯ to C or B to F; an eight-string F♯ to F; a nine-string F♯ to B♭; a ten-string C♯ to B♭ or F♯ to E♭; an eleven-string C♯ to E♭ or F♯ to A♭; and a twelve-string C♯ to A♭ or B to G♭.

Playing styles

The techniques used to play the extended-range bass are virtually identical to those used for standard 4-string basses, including pizzicato (finger plucking), use of a plectrum (a.k.a. 'pick'), slap-and-pop, and tapping.

The upper strings of an extended-range bass allow bassists to adopt playing styles of the electric guitar. One such style is the practice of comping, or playing a rhythmic chordal accompaniment to an improvised lead. The increased polyphony of extended-range basses allows for voicings (chords, arpeggios) of five or more notes, as well as wider voicings such as "drop 3", "drop 2+4" and "spreads." Walking a bassline and comping at the same time is also possible, which is useful in jazz combos lacking a chordal instrument, or in accompaniment of a chordal instrument during their lead portion.

The added strings of the extended-range bass compound the muting problems that many bassists encounter. Because of sympathetic vibration, a plucked note makes that same note (and its octaves) sound on all strings that are unmuted. Extended-range bassists often turn to soft items such as hairbands to dampen the sympathetic vibrations, or adopt advanced muting techniques, including the "floating thumb" technique (using the thumb of the plucking hand to mute lower strings) to achieve a good sound.

The role that the extended-range bass plays in music is still largely a matter of situation and personal preference. Many extended-range bassists play the bass part in bands, and may also perform in a solo setting, using advanced techniques such as two-handed tapping or chording.

Notable players

Jazz

Country

R&B

Rock

Metal

Five strings, primary

Six or more strings, primary

External links

See also

References

  1. Jisi, Chris (2008). Bass player presents the fretless bass. New York: Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879309251. OCLC 226281048.
  2. Overly, Mike (2003). Bass encyclomedia : how to see the whole fretboard and easily play its many chord, scale, and arpeggio fragments (1st ed.). Dayton, OH: 12 Tone Music Pub. ISBN 0965808661. OCLC 55109256.
  3. Jonathan, Rosseu (May 5, 2018). "Tien suppervette basloopjes. Puur genieten!". BasgitaarShop (in Dutch). Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  4. Raul Amador (August 2013). "Igor Saavedra". Bass Musician. pp. 60–77, 6th Anniversary: The Latin Bass Issue.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  5. Amador, Valery (July 1, 2011). "Warwick releases Jeroen Paul Thesseling's 7-string fretless bass". Bassmusicianmagazine.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  6. Johnson, Kevin (November 17, 2011). "Ultra Low: An Interview with Jeroen Paul Thesseling". Notreble.com. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  7. "Steve Bailey – That Bass Player Dude". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  8. Edo Castro Homepage
  9. BILL DICKENS - "The Buddha of Bass": Stevie Wonder and Bill Dickens Jamming at X2 Wireless
  10. Jimmy Haslip Official Website
  11. Guitar World interview, 1989
  12. John Patitucci Home Page
  13. Igor Saavedra Official Website
  14. Kevin Johnson (September 19, 2013). "Bass of the Week: Esperanza Spalding's South Paw Fretless 5-String". No Treble.
  15. "ERB Legend Al Caldwell". Bass Musician. December 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  16. Les Claypool - Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo - In Theaters Now
  17. Kelly Conlon Website
  18. "Necromantia release a fitting epitaph for Baron Blood". October 6, 2021.
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