Bass and How Music Works (Documentary)

Bass and How Music Works

Music is usually broken down into melody, rhythm and harmony. But what about the very lowest notes in music, that can have an impact on all three? In this film Howard looks at bass and how music works, and the abiding fascination musicians and composers have had with the bass.

For half a millennium instrument makers have been trying to construct instruments of all shapes and sizes capable of creating thudding, sonorous low notes. Only with the arrival of the synthesizer did they succeed in producing a rival to the mighty organ. With disco, dance, and drum ‘n’ bass, the bass has arrived on centre stage.

But bass notes have another, crucial role. Far from just plodding away in the background, bass lines can have a critical effect on the whole structure of a piece of music, helping to drive the chord progressions.

Overlooked and Neglected

Bass is often one of the most over-looked instruments in a musical group. Many audience members have no idea what a bass even is. Despite this fact, bass is probably the most critical instrument in a group. It is rare to find a performing band without a bass player.

Bass describes tones of low frequency or range from 16-256 Hz (C0 to middle C4). In musical compositions, these are the lowest parts of the harmony.

Howard Goodall looks at the dark horse of the musical family, and its use in the hands of such diverse musical talents as Johann (and Richard) Strauss, John Philip Sousa, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Albinoni, Bach and Motown’s resident bass maestro, James Jamerson.

This episode in the series is usually watched last. It is the fourth and final episode in the “How Music Works with Howard Goodall” series of documentaries.

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