What is an Electric Bass Guitar?

by Kevin on March 9, 2010

Music has always been a part of the lives of so many people. It serves as an inspiration to many who are being tested by life’s challenges. As a result, many people are trying to engage in music whether by singing, composing or by playing musical instruments such as an electric bass guitar.

More and more people are getting fascinated with electric bass guitar because it is quite different from the usual guitar but it is easier to play. As defined, an “electric bass guitar” also called “electric bass” refers to a stringed instrument that is played using the fingers or the thumb. The different styles may include slapping, plucking, popping, thumping, tapping or through the use of a plectrum.

In 1930s, Paul Tutmarc invented this instrument and a series of developments have followed years after. Today, the electric bass guitar is considered as the staple in any band because of the impact of the sounds that it creates. Because of the distinct sound it produces, many people are beginning to learn how to play it.

For beginners, the best thing that they need to learn is how to differentiate the electric bass from the regular guitar. This is important for them to realize that they need to make some adjustments if they prefer to move to playing this specific instrument. Primarily, one thing that sets the electric bass from the ordinary guitar is that the overall appearance. Although the construction might be the same, the distinct difference lies in the size of the body, the neck and the strings. Compared to the ordinary guitar, the electric bass has larger body, longer neck, bigger scale length, and has four strings that are tuned higher pitches. Just like the electric guitar, there is also a need to plug the electric bass into an amplifier and speaker when there are live performances such as concerts and other events.

From the 1950s until now, the electric bass guitar has been an alternative for the double bass especially in pop music. The one who holds the electric bass guitar is responsible to anchor the harmonic framework of the music as well as laying down the beat. Today, the electric bass guitar is visible in various styles of music such as metal, rock, blues, jazz, and pop. More often than not, the electric bass guitar is also used as a soloing instrument when playing Latin, fusion, jazz, funk, and in other schools of rock and metal music particularly in progressive rock and metal styles.


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By Guest Blogger GK Eckert

Do you long for a beautiful, crystal clear voice? This simple technique will show you how to bring your voice forward and out of the throat, giving you that clear, sweet singing voice that you want.

Nasal voice placement

Before we start this, I want to state that this is an exercise only, to help you gain control of directing your voice, and not intended as a way to sing in public for people!

I’m sure that as a child, just fooling around, you put your voice in your nose. Maybe you pretended you were a monkey. Perhaps if you speak French, you can produce a nasal sound easily.

So, that is where we want to start, making an “E” sound as nasally as you can. It may feel funny and sound funny. Most of my students have a good laugh, when we do this exercise, and we have great fun. So, just have some fun with it.

Practice singing some notes to the “E” vowel using your nasal placement, remembering that this is just an exercise. By placing your voice in your nose, you have actually directed your voice and have a “handle” on it, so to speak. And that is my purpose. Practice this for a while until it comes easily.

Next, put your index finger upon your nose, close to the bridge, as you sing your nasal “E.” Feel the vibration in your nose. Now move your index finger to your front lip, just above your teeth on the gum line. You probably don’t feel vibration there. The vibration shows you where you have placed your voice.

Follow your finger with your voice

Sing a long nasal “E,” while you are doing that, drag your finger from the bridge of your nose, all along the tip to the spot just above your teeth, where we were before. Pretend that the voice is following the finger. Use your imagination and really focus on that finger.

You may need to do it a few times, before you begin feeling a vibration, where your finger stops. The vibration will tell you that you are successful. Not only that, but you will hear the voice change from nasal, to forward only. If you have been singing in your throat, forward will sound clearer and sharper, while the throat sound is more fat and fuzzy.

This will require some practice to fully master, but you will start seeing results very soon. You will get to know when your voice is forward, and that is half the battle. The more you practice the easier it will get.

Reading aloud is good. And if you can integrate this habit of using your voice forward, while speaking, it will become a habit much faster and much easier. After all, you speak more often than you sing, so think of all that practice you’ll be getting.

So, whether you’re a veteran singer, or just learning to sing, if you want to sing more forward and have a clearer voice, you can certainly achieve it. This little exercise is a real gem.

Gail Karen (G.K.) Eckert is a vocalist, musician, songwriter, author and teacher. She founded Musikhaus Studio of Creativity in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in 1987.

Do you want to find out how to be creative too? Get a FREE copy of her new e book “Be Creative” – a step-by-step guide to a More Creative Way of Life.

Do you want to a career in music? Find out more about learning to be a pro.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/


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