The electric bass, also known as the electric bass guitar, is an instrument deeply connected to contemporary music. It represents the deepest pulse, the vibration that engages both the listener and the other musicians, shaping the groove of a performance.

Sleek and melodious, gritty and fierce when needed, it forms one half of the rhythm section along with the drums, serving as the foundation upon which the entire architecture of modern music and songs is built.

It would be reductive to consider this instrument merely an accompaniment, as it has gained solo status thanks to the contributions of genius and creative musicians who, over the years, have rewritten the rules, introducing numerous innovations in technique and expression.

The History and Origins of the Electric Bass

The electric bass obviously derives from its acoustic ancestor, the double bass. It was born out of the evolving needs for volume, dynamics, and freedom of execution brought about by the rise of electric ensembles and new musical genres. The first electric bass, with the same tuning as the double bass (E-A-D-G), was created in 1935 in Seattle by Paul Tutmarc, who crafted very few units of his Audiovox Model 736.

In 1951, thanks to the entrepreneurial and musical genius of Leo Fender, the legendary Fender Precision Bass entered mass production. Equipped with a single-coil pickup (a single copper coil) and a neck with 21 frets, it allowed for greater intonation precision compared to the double bass.

A few years later, Danelectro, following Fender’s pioneering steps, launched the UB-1 and UB-2, six-string electric basses with 24 frets. However, these were more baritone guitars than true basses.

With the adoption of the split-coil pickup (a combination of two single coils) and reduced background noise, the Fender Precision became the definitive reference in electric bass, still produced today and followed in 1960 by the advent of the Fender Jazz Bass.

The first major innovation came in 1976 when Music Man equipped the Stingray bass with active equalization. This feature, powered by batteries, allowed players to boost or cut frequencies by up to 20 dB before even reaching the amplifier.

The evolution of the instrument continued unabated, and in 1979, Ned Steinberger introduced the first headless bass, with tuning keys located at the bridge.
Meanwhile, the sonic spectrum had already expanded significantly with the introduction of 5-string basses, adding a low B string, and 6-string basses, which included a high C string above the G.

How the Electric Bass is Made

The main components of an electric bass are the body, neck, fretboard, headstock (housing the tuners), pickups, bridge, and strings.

The body, as the term suggests, is the instrument’s main structure, typically made from solid wood in layers or as a single block, using mahogany, basswood, maple, or alder. It supports the musician’s arm and plays a significant role in sound quality. The wood type and neck joint significantly affect the tonal quality. The body’s finish—whether glossy, matte, satin, or transparent—often follows contemporary trends.
There are also hollow-body electric basses designed for niche genres and produced in limited quantities.

The neck, generally made of maple, is often constructed in layers, up to nine, to enhance vibration transfer to the body and maintain tuning stability.
It can be bolted on, glued, or integrated into the body, extending through the instrument’s length as a single piece. Inside, a truss rod allows adjustment of the neck curvature via a screw mechanism.

The fretboard is usually glued to the neck and serves as the playing surface where string pressure changes the pitch. It is commonly made of maple, ebony, or rosewood. Some manufacturers, inspired by Steinberger, create fretboards using synthetic resins.
The fretboard features frets, metal bars perpendicular to the strings, numbering 21 or 24 depending on the model.
For sounds reminiscent of an electrified double bass, skilled bassists, particularly in jazz or fusion, use fretless basses with no frets. Here, the desired pitch is achieved by finger placement, without tactile or visual guides.

The headstock is located at the end of the neck and holds the tuners for string tuning. It also displays the instrument’s brand and model.

The pickups detect string vibrations, convert them into electrical signals, and send them to an external amplifier via a cable.
Pickups can be single-coil, double-coil, piezoelectric, ceramic, or other types. Passive pickups rely on coil design for signal characteristics, while active pickups, powered by batteries, include a built-in preamp.

The bridge is a crucial component that significantly impacts sound quality. Bassists often experiment with different bridges to customize their instrument’s timbre. The bridge anchors the strings to the body and may include a piezoelectric pickup.

Strings for electric basses are typically made of steel, sometimes coated with synthetic material. Their gauge determines the desired octave, while their wrapping affects tactile feel, ranging from rough to smooth. Traditional four-string basses are tuned like double basses (G, D, A, E), but 5- and 6-string basses are increasingly common. Today, basses with 8 or more strings, single or doubled like 12-string guitars, are available to meet any sonic need.

How to Play the Electric Bass

The electric bass belongs to the plucked string family, so the most traditional way to play it is by plucking the strings with your fingers, a technique midway between plucking and striking, around the pickup area. Generally, the index, middle, and ring fingers of the right hand are used (reversed for left-handed players), with the thumb resting on the pickup itself. The forearm rests on the body.

The left hand presses the strings on the fretboard to produce the desired notes.

Some bassists play exclusively with their fingers, others with a pick, or by alternating between the two, depending on the desired sound and dynamics.

How Much Does an Electric Bass Cost?

As with any musical instrument, prices vary widely. Entry-level basses cost a few hundred euros, sufficient for beginners to start playing and studying decently without encountering a subpar instrument with defects or strange vibrations. On the high end, professional-grade basses can cost several thousand euros.

For a beginner’s bass, it’s essential to avoid extremely cheap models, as an unplayable instrument could deter you from continuing to play.

A Nod to the Great Bassists in History

Many bassists have left their mark on the history of this instrument, from technical wizards to those who have redefined its role in innovative ways. From charismatic rock stars with powerful sounds to reggae pioneers with deep, hypnotic basslines, from fusion virtuosos with five or six strings to funk idols.
It’s impossible not to mention Sir Paul McCartney, bassist and vocalist of The Beatles, who broke new ground with his Hofner, or the majestic and commanding bass lines of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. Then there’s the incomparable Jaco Pastorius, who transformed the bass into a solo instrument and became its first true superstar, or the jaw-dropping technique of contemporary bassist John Myung.

Robbie Shakespeare and Aston “Family Man” Barrett were the prophets of reggae bass; the former recording thousands of albums as a session musician, the latter forever linked to Bob Marley. Funk, a genre that has made the electric bass its cornerstone, owes much to the talents of Larry Graham, the inventor of slap technique, Marcus Miller, and Stanley Clarke.
The list could go on endlessly; there’s no limit to the passion for great music. Each person will discover their favorite bassists depending on their preferred genre.