The bass player is the most important member of any band, new research has claimed.
The study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that the human brain finds it easier to understand rhythms when played at a lower tone such as on a bass.
According to the report: ‘Superior time perception for lower musical pitch explains why bass-ranged instruments lay down musical rhythms.
‘In addition to the widespread musical practice of using bass-range instruments to lay down the rhythmic foundation of music, a few behavioural studies suggest that lower-pitched voices dominate time processing, both in terms of perception and in determining to which voice people will align body movements.’
This means that people are more likely to dance, tap their feet and respond rhythmically to songs with more prominent bass than they are to higher-pitched instruments such as guitar and drums.
The research found that the pulse of the lower-pitched instrument is crucial for inducing a regular sense of beat to synchronise with as well as providing a strong rhythmic foundation.
Read the full report.
The study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that the human brain finds it easier to understand rhythms when played at a lower tone such as on a bass.
According to the report: ‘Superior time perception for lower musical pitch explains why bass-ranged instruments lay down musical rhythms.
‘In addition to the widespread musical practice of using bass-range instruments to lay down the rhythmic foundation of music, a few behavioural studies suggest that lower-pitched voices dominate time processing, both in terms of perception and in determining to which voice people will align body movements.’
This means that people are more likely to dance, tap their feet and respond rhythmically to songs with more prominent bass than they are to higher-pitched instruments such as guitar and drums.
The research found that the pulse of the lower-pitched instrument is crucial for inducing a regular sense of beat to synchronise with as well as providing a strong rhythmic foundation.
Read the full report.
