As a Brazilian bass player I can say for sure that the low B bass string plays a crucial role in some Brazilian (and other Latin) music styles. As an example, you can watch this video in which bassist Anthony Jackson performs with Lee Ritenour and Ivan Lins.
I produce/record/perform in an electronic band
(www.karmacoda.com) and
we can't perform our music without
the low B bass
string. It's crucial!!
Brett
-----Original
Message-----
From: AUDITORY - Research in Auditory Perception
[mailto:AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Brian Gygi
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 10:14 AM
To:
AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Five string bass
Arturo Camacho
wrote:
> Pierre,
>
> What about the lowest note in a 5-string
bass B=30.9 Hz? When I hear a
> 5-string bass playing this note I am
pretty sure I hear that pitch.
> One way I could prove it to myself is by
playing B one octave above
> (B=61.8
> Hz) and then B=30.9 Hz right
after. I am pretty sure I would hear an
> interval of an octave between
them (I have been musician all my life
> so I am pretty confident I know
how an octave sounds like). Therefore,
> I conclude I can hear a pitch
of 30.9.
>
> I guess any bass player would agree with me. Otherwise,
why do they
> bother paying more for that extra string?
>
>
Arturo
>
>
Dear Arturo,
Why do they pay extra
(I guess I should say we, since I owned one once)
for the extra
string? Because it looks cool! The only four string
bass players
now are guys who are going for the "retro" look. In fact,
now you need
at least a six-string bass to have cred. I tried to get
people
interested once in a 32-string bass, the lowest notes of which
would crack
concrete and cause submarines to divert course 3,000 miles
away. Alas,
it was declared a public
hazard.
Brian
-----------------------------------------
This
message (including any attachments) may contain confidential
information
intended for a specific individual and purpose. If you
are not the
intended recipient, delete this message. If you are
not the intended
recipient, disclosing, copying, distributing, or
taking any action based on
this message is strictly prohibited.