Extended-range bass

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The Extended-Range Bass, ("ERB") as a term, refers to an electric bass guitar 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, and even 12-string basses. Also, Knuckle Guitar Works produces a bass guitar tuned one octave lower than a "standard" four-string, which is considered an extended-range bass. "Extended range-bass" does not, however, refer to basses with doubled or tripled octave strings.

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[edit] History

The instrument is a descendant and an extension of the bass, is credited to have been invented in 1975 when Anthony Jackson asked Fodera to build him a six-string bass, tuned (from low to high) BEADGC. Though other six-string basses had existed before Jackson's bass (such as the Danelectro Longhorn or the Fender Bass VI), they were tuned EADGBE and were seen as guitars that were tuned an octave lower than standard guitar tuning. Jackson's bass was the first to actually extend the range of the bass lower rather than higher. Though he was an accomplished session player, Jackson received much criticism for his expansion of the bass. However, the low "B" string that was on Jackson's six-string bass eventually became almost a standard in its own right, with many four-string players switching to five-string basses for the extended range that they possess (especially among heavy metal bassists who wanted to follow their guitarists when he/she used "drop-D" tuning). Over time, custom bass builders have added both lower (such as F# and C#) and higher strings (such as F and Bb) to the six-string bass guitar. Though the Extended-Range Bass is closely related to the bass, many view it as an entirely new instrument due to its expansive range (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 Grand Piano, Jean Baudin became the second bassist which an extended range bass of this range in early 2006 with the finished construction of his JP 12 string)

[edit] Construction

Construction of basses with more than 7 strings has largely been the realm of boutique luthiers, with few production-run extended-range basses (notable exceptions include the Conklin Groove-Tools line of 7-string basses and the Galveston 7- and 8-string basses). Thus, most extended-range basses are highly personal works of art, tailor-made to a player's specific preferences, including much variation in scale length, appearance, and electronics. Also, due to the fact that the scale length of a bass (34" or 35") produces high strings that are prone to breakage, many builders opt to use Novax Guitars' fanned-fret system to achieve a variable-scale instrument.

[edit] Number of strings and tuning

Since 1995, when luthier Bill Conklin presented bassist Bill "Buddha" Dickens with the first 9-string bass, bass builders have been adding strings to their custom basses at the behest of their customers seeking extended range. 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. However, there exists much variation of tuning among players, who sometimes swap out one or more high strings for extra low strings, or vice versa.

[edit] Playing styles

The techniques used to play the extended-range bass are closely related to those used for basses, including finger plucking, slapping, popping, and tapping, though a plectrum is very rarely used.

[edit] Muting

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.

[edit] Two-Handed Tapping

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 in which the Chapman Stick is played. By using both hands, extended-range bassists can create sophisticated chordings, harmonies, melodies, and contrapuntal music.

[edit] Musical role of the extended-range bass

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, 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 looping by layering complex bass parts, melodies, and harmonies on top of each other.

[edit] Notable players

Notable extended-range bassists include:

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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