bass

Short for either the bass guitar (also known as the "electric" bass) or the upright bass (also known as "bass fiddle", "double bass", "contrabass", "string bass", or "acoustic bass"). Although different in design, both of these musical instruments essentially serve the same role: providing a low bottom-end to the music and a link between the rhythm and lead sections of a band. Though plenty of exceptional players have shown that the bass can additionally be a versatile lead instrument in its own right.

"At night I could hear the bass reverberate through the neighborhood. The guitars and drums were muffled, but the bass traveled everywhere. I loved that, and wanted to have the power to shake buildings. Also, the bass was big and manly; guitars were little and wimpy, with these thin little strings that looked like Velveeta cheese cutters." - Billy Sheehan

by Bill M. August 30, 2004

bassist

first i just want to say, before i start my definition, that soultoast is an idiot because he cannot spell simple words such as "unrecognized", "instrument", and "beauty" so just disregard his definition altogether.

a bassist is a person who either plucs, picks, or slaps a bass. generally more musically inclined than a guitarist since the guitarist(and ill admit it because i am one) plays mostly for show(unless classically trained because thats different from rock and metal of sorts). bassists dont usually get solos because its not part of their job description but when they do it is usually amazing. ex: anesthesia. as great and important a bassist is to making music, he will never be cooler than the guitarist. i say that with all honesty.

contrary to popular belief, cliff burton wasnt metallica's first bassist, ron mcgovney was. cliff burton was fucking awesome though.

by monotone November 14, 2004

bass drops

Bass drops are the very loud, low frequency bass booms used by a lot of techno and metal groups today. When there's a bass drop, you can feel it throughout your whole body, and many are known to instantly cum in their pants when a bass drop hits.

Dude, I went to see The Acacia Strain last night. The bass drops were so huge I came all over the place!

by Shabutie93x August 22, 2011

Bass

The lowest, wholest sounding of the male voicings. Usually associated with the rumbling feeling one experinces when singing with or listening to a choir or chorus.

The bass section of the men's chorus added so much body to the sound.

by E.J. March 29, 2004

Bass

The lowest male singing voice. In opera and musicals, they play buffoons, kings, priests, fathers, the Devil, and other miscellaneous parts. Male counterpart to the contralto, although much more common.

Whoa, now that's low! I like the bass! So majestic, so elegant... but it sounds kinda spooky.

by Sam October 29, 2004

bass

1) A far more sophisticated, fun, and powerful instrument evolving from the upright jazz bass shaped like a guitar, oftenly cosisting 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 12 strings. Used in most modern music and hardly given any recognition, the bass produces low-end sounds and notes used often to provide rhythm along with percussion instruments or backup to another instrument, such as an electric guitar.

2) What the idiot ghetto kids at your school refer to as a guitar, think electric varieties can produce sound when not plugged in, see as an "evil" instrument used in heavy metal music worshipping Satan, and view only as a tool to get you laid, which is just an added bonus.

Some famous bass players include Flea, Jaco Pastorius, Les Claypool, Geddy Lee, and Ginger Baker.

by DexterSR300DX April 6, 2003

basshole

Bass fishermen who have no respect for other peoples property and carelessly bounce their lead sinkers off of other peoples boats and/or speed through "no wake" zones.

Some basshole broke my port side window yesterday, fucker got away.

by Machu Pichu October 4, 2006