Music Glossary: bass

Axial involve one dimension; tangential two; oblique three—each with decreasing strength. more

Low-end support outlining roots/guide-tones; locks with rhythm. more

Electric/ acoustic bass tuned like double bass (E–A–D–G); anchors groove and harmony. more

Two/three-finger, raking, and floating thumb for speed and control. more

Balance pickup blend, plucking position, compression, and HPF/LPF to sit with kick and avoid mud. more

Thick porous absorbers in corners/edges that reduce low-frequency decay and smooth the response. more

Root movement vs upper extensions; avoid muddy low mids by spacing voicings. more

When transcribing, capture bass line/roots first, then guide tones, then melody. more

Bass double-reed with flexible articulation and characterful low register. more

Tenor/bass string instrument tuned C–G–D–A; lyrical low-mid register and powerful bass. more

Device converting high-Z unbalanced to low-Z balanced, often with ground lift for noise control. more

Lowest orchestral string; sounds an octave below written; tuned in fourths (E–A–D–G). more

Fast breakbeats (160–180 BPM) with heavy basslines and intricate programming. more

Kick and bass coordinate accents, length, and rests to define the groove foundation. more

Reggae-derived studio form using mixing-board effects, dropouts, and heavy bass. more

Deciding when kick and bass hit together, alternate, or answer each other for clarity and drive. more

LH basslines or drones while RH improvises; sustain pedal management. more

Align bass note attacks/sustains with kick patterns to unify low end and groove. more

Design bass + kick (or tuba/bassoon) interactions; avoid frequency masking. more

Bass buildup with directional mics at close distances; artistic or requires HPF. more

Sending recorded DI signal back to amps/pedals; capture tone later while keeping performance. more

Jamaican genre with offbeat skank, deep bass, and laid-back grooves. more

Resonances caused by standing waves between boundaries, reinforcing/attenuating certain frequencies. more

Voicings omitting the root to feature 3–7–extensions; bass supplies the root. more

LF cancellations/boosts from interference between direct speaker output and boundary reflections. more

Notation indicating chord over a specific bass note (e.g., C/G); can imply inversions or pedals. more