Who Invented the Electric Bass Guitar?

The invention of the electric bass guitar was an important catalyst in the evolution of rock, blues, funk and country music. The added volume, minus the feedback, that the electric bass provided allowed musicians to compete sonically with the electric guitar and drums without sacrificing their tone or technique. The electric bass guitar has been used on many famous recordings by musicians such as Paul McCartney, Sting and John-Paul Jones.

Fun Fact

The electric bass guitar was not created by a musician, but by a Seattle based inventor named Paul Tutmarc.

Significance

The electric bass guitar allowed musicians to perform at high volumes without the threat of feedback, which was a common occurrence with the standard upright bass of the day.

Function

The electric bass guitar has been used in just about every genre of music, including jazz, rock, blues, funk, folk and country.

Benefits

Since the electric bass guitar has frets unlike the upright bass, it allows players of any level or experience to play in tune. This greatly expands the popularity of the instrument as players can perform on the bass without having to rely on their ears to tune every note.

Misconceptions

Contrary to popular belief, the electric bass guitar is more similar to the upright bass than the electric guitar. Both basses have four strings, are tuned the same, sound in the same octave and serve the same function in an ensemble.

Features

The electric bass has four strings, is tuned to the same notes as an upright bass and has between twenty and twenty-two frets, depending on the model. It has an input jack that connects the bass's pickup to the amplifier as well as tone and volume knobs.

History

The electric bass first appeared in the Audiovox catalogue in 1935. The instrument was labeled as the "electronic bass fiddle" and was very similar in appearance to the fretted electric bass we know today.

Resources

• Creating Walking Bass Lines