Bass Guitar

A Brief History of the Bass Guitar

A close relative of both the electric guitar, and the string bass, the modern electric bass guitar provides the low tones for most of rock music. Developed in the 1940s it closely mirrored Les Paul's work on the electric lead guitar. Slightly longer, heavier, and with thicker strings, the bass guitar is played by plucking with the fingers, rather than strumming. Accomplished bass guitarists find it easy to pick up a string bass, and pound out a baseline when needed. A separate electric bass amplifier is needed to amplify the instruments sounds for practical use.