The acoustic bass guitar is an instrument which provides the heavy tones and harmonies associated with good Jazz. Somewhat of a mixed past, the acoustic bass guitar was born in the 50's but was developed in the 60s by Ernie Ball. It came after it's cousin, the electric bass guitar, which was born and developed in the 50s. In 1972, Ball collaborated with George Fullerton to develop the Earthwood acoustic bass guitar, which was in production until the year 1985. The Earthwood acoustic bass guitar was larger than most acoustic bass guitars, producing additional volume.
The construction of the acoustic bass guitar has a hollow body, unlike the solid body of an electric bass guitar. This hollow body forms the resonance cavity which amplifies the sound. Most bass guitars are fretted, but a few are fret less. The traditional acoustic bass guitar has four strings, although five strings have been made. A hybrid form, or a semi-acoustic model, has the hollow body, but is not intended to be listened to without a amplifier. The purpose behind the hollow body is to produce a specific sound in a similar way to a semi-acoustic electric guitar.
Most acoustic bass guitars have pickups which utilize different elements to amplify the sound produced by the bass. There are many kinds of pickups to provide amplification to the signal. Magnetic pickups pick up the vibrations in the strings as they affect the magnetic field. Piezoelectric pickups use crystals to convert the vibrations from the strings into an electric signal. Optical pickups use infrared light to optically follow the strings. Optical pickups can get the low frequencies of the bass while filtering out all of the noise.
Within the traditional music of Mexico, six string acoustic bass guitars are in heavy use. There is the baja sexto, with six pairs of strings. The strings are under heavy tension on a lightweight body, which ensures a strong sound. In the 20s, the rise of "Tex-Mex" music is thankful to the baja sexto, which would replace the piano parts. Then there is the chitarrone, a very deep and full bodied six string acoustic bass guitar. It is considered by many to be a true acoustic guitar. However, its size and weight make prolonged playing difficult.
To play a bass guitar, there are a number of techniques that can be employed. Firstly, there is the standard plucking technique. The first and second finger plucks at the strings at any location along the string. There are a variety of techniques for generating sounds that are unique, depending on where and how the string is plucked. Another technique is picking, where a pick is used for a precise action with the strings. The pick chosen should be thick because of the weight of the strings. Other less conventional techniques include the slap and pop technique, where the thumb will hit a string followed by the first and second fingers snapping the string, giving a rapid drumming effect.
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Originally posted 2008-12-10 05:32:19. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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