Bassline

The bass line is in polyphonic music the deepest voice that carries the harmonies of the tune in a particular way.

Allocation of the bass line

In the orchestra, the bass line usually of the double basses (and usually the cellos), bassoons and low brass instruments in jazz, mostly from the double bass in the rock music from the bass guitar in the band music of the tuba and the vocal music of the bassist taken. In pieces for instrumental ensemble, which are similar to applied vocal music, therefore makes the deepest instrument, the bass line. In pieces for keyboard instruments, the bass line with the left hand is performed on the organ as an alternative to the pedal.

In Baroque music the bass line was usually estimated in the notes and supplemented accordingly when executed by chords; see basso.

Pauses the bass voice, while the others are still making music, so another voice is almost always automatically seen in terms of function to the bass, where appropriate, the altos or violins.

One in pausierendem basso played by the viola or other instrument in Old Location bass line called the Baroque " Bassettchen ".

Principles for the design of the bass line

According to the counterpoint rules, the bass line should be possible in contrary motion to the upper voice - so go down when the upper voice goes up and vice versa.

Not always corresponds to the lowest note in the set also the root of the present at the respective place chord. If, additionally each chord of a piece of the real root, one obtains a so-called " fundamental bass ". However, this has less a practical purpose rather than an analytical benefit.

Shaping and metric - rhythmic properties

Closely linked with the harmonic foundation that gives the bass line, the metric - rhythmic structure of a piece of music. Often this entails that the bass line is more closely tied to the basic beat, meter, and rhythm than other main cast. In jazz, one encounters the the meter emphasizing function in uniformly progressive walking bass.

A special form of the bass line is the ground bass, in which a figure of a few bars in length, over which the other voices unfold, is frequently repeated. Musical forms, adhering to this principle, the chaconne and the passacaglia, but also many works of popular music.

Another special case is the cantus firmus in the bass. The melody is performed in mostly long notes in the bass and plays around in the higher voices.

Coming from the reggae music, the bass line in the dub genre as regularly repeated motif is the defining characteristic. This dub bass dive then again varies in many arrangements about in hip-hop and house / dance.

• Counterpoint