ELECTRIC BASS

Electric bassists play the bass guitar. In most rap, country, and pop genres, the bass line outlines the harmony of the music being performed, while simultaneously indicating the rhythmic pulse. In addition, there are different standard bass line types for different genres and types of song (e.g. blues ballad, fast swing, etc.). Basslines often emphasize the root, third, and fifth of the chords of the music. In addition, pedal tones (a repeated or sustained single note), ostinatos, and bass riffs are also used as bass lines.

Though less common, some bass players employ a polyphonic style of playing instead of a single-note melody, using full chords and double-stops to accent their basslines.