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

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

bass

what all good music is about.

eric clapton doesn't know the meaning of bass

by benjamin_stewart August 29, 2005

bass

This word has multiple meanings. I see that the musical instrument part and fish part are well written already, so I'll skip these two and define it according to Meghan Trainor's songs:
Bass, in contrary to treble, refers to women that are not model-thin, and has confident in their body shape; they don't try to lose weight unhealthily, or feel sorry for themselves for not being 'fit' to society's trending standards.

(Lyrics quote) You know I won't be no stick-figure silicone barbie doll, so if that's what you're into then go 'head and move along...because you know I'm all about that bass, no treble.
(Lyrics quote)I smell her on your collar...I gave you bass, you gave me sweet talk...Tell me do you think I'm dumb?

by Evergreen712 January 20, 2015

bass

Low frequency oscillations produced by rapid movement of large volumes of air at multiple cycles per second thus producing a very low rumbling sound that is harnessed and used in music form

Hey mr. dj why dont you drop that bass

by Justice October 15, 2002

bass

what kim deal plays with the pixies.

what d'arcy played with smashing pumpkins.

what lorna doom played in the germs.

what kim gordon plays in sonic youth.

what melissa auf der maur plays.

what kristen pfaff played in hole.

what carol kaye plays.

what gail greenword played in belly.

what jeniffer finch played in L7.

what jill emery plays in mazzy star.

what kim chi played with the distillers.

what tina weymouth played with talking heads.

what kelley deal played with the last hard men.

what all the cool girls play.

"the best bands in the world have female bassists." - ted, brave new girl.

by the she February 23, 2005

bass

a four string instrument commonly tuned to EADG and is similar to the guitar but has a lower pitch. The bass is usually used for rhythm and to give texture to the music. A lot of idiot guitarists say bass is not needed but that is untrue. I'm a guitarist and sometimes I do wish I picked the bass (no pun intended). Some legendary bassists include John Entwhistle, John Paul Jones, Charles Mingus, Roger Waters, and Krist Noveselic.

Listen to some jazz bass. It will blow your mind.

by CMAL14 April 6, 2010