Aerothorn on 7/10/2007 at 18:08
Silly little question.
Some folks were playing Guitar Hero. I referred to the bass guitar as a "guitar". They corrected me and said it was a "bass". I said yes, which is a type of guitar. They said no, it isn't. Etc.
I don't know jack about music, though if it's not a guitar, why is it called a bass guitar? And isn't it played like a guitar? What makes it not a guitar? Or are these people just wrong?
Fingernail on 7/10/2007 at 18:13
it is a bass guitar, to give it the full name. There are other obscure ranges of guitar, such as alto, requinto, 8ve etc. but of course people just abbreviate and take the most common - ie. a guitar is the 6 string variety with the standard range, a bass is the bass guitar.
"Bass" technically just refers to a particular register, or more commonly the lowest given part of a piece of music - the "bass" line. Often in pop and rock of course, this is played on the bass guitar, but in classical music, ie in an orchestra, it could be a double bass (also frequently shortened to just "bass" in common parlance) or a cello or a male bass singer or other.
So basically, you were right. However most people will understand guitar as one thing and bass as something else. But it is a "bass guitar" and therefore a subset of guitars.
Aerothorn on 7/10/2007 at 18:19
Thanks for the feedback!
Fingernail on 7/10/2007 at 18:29
to make this doubly simple:
* does it normally have 4 or more strings?
* is the standard technique to pluck the strings?
* is it generally tuned in 4ths?
* is it played resting on one knee, or using a strap to give the same angle when standing?
* is it the most excellent instrument ever?
THEN IT'S PROBABLY A GUITAR!
Other telling features: a fretted fingerboard (not always fretted!!!!), a body based on a rough figure of eight (or not!!!!), has metal or nylon strings, the body probably made mostly of wood, with notable exceptions.
fett on 7/10/2007 at 20:48
This reminds me of the time I was in a Subway (sandwich place) and asked for the Asiago bread (correctly pronounced Aah-si-aah-go and I don't give a fuck what the dictionary says b/c I lived in Italy as a kid and I fucking know how it's pronounced), and the guy says, "No, it's pronounced ASS-I-AYY-GO." Fuck you, fast food guy.
I love it when people who don't know what the hell they're talking about try to set you straight on something. A bass is a guitar, just like a bass (drum) or snare (drum) is a drum. Just like a tom-tom, a dumbek, or a timable is a drum. Tell them that a piano is a percussion instrument and watch what happens. :rolleyes:
37637598 on 7/10/2007 at 21:29
There's an un-settled argument here about whether or not a fiddle is just a violin, or if it is its own instrument. I personally do not really give a fuk either way.
Fingernail on 7/10/2007 at 21:44
Fiddle is really slang for violin. It implies a certain technique such as that found in folk music, as opposed to classical violin technique. But as far as I am aware, the instruments are of the same design, although I doubt, were you a folk fiddler, that you'd seek out a Stradivari or Guarini.
fett on 7/10/2007 at 22:37
Yeah - "Playin' fiddle" means playing violin in a bluegrass or country band. The 'fiddle' isn't really a proper name for the instrument, but more the style of playing. Just like 'shredding' or 'riffing'.
Spaztick on 7/10/2007 at 23:24
Yes, a base is in every way a guitar except you don't pick up as much chicks. A bass-playing friend of mine in a band always gets women walking up to him that says "Excuse me..." *points to the lead guitar/drummer* "...is he married?"
