The most important band member, according to science
In the pursuit of crafting the ideal song, scientific assessments typically attribute equal significance to each component, from the vibrant electric and soothing acoustic guitars to the resonating bass, rhythmic drums, and passionate vocals. However, when the magnifying lens is applied even sharper, who is the most essential band member?
If you look back through the history of music, early innovators of rock, rhythm and blues served as a vehicle for artists to express their experiences, emotions, and struggles. This type of music was typically categorised by its blend of jazz, blues, gospel, and swing, creating a vibrant new sound based on rhythmic beats, soulful vocals, and emotive lyrics.
All of these genres enjoyed a common thread: the bass guitar. Often revered as the heartbeat of music, this particular instrument has a rich and transformative history that echoes through countless melodies and rhythms across genres. Its evolution from humble origins to a cornerstone of modern music is a testament to its sheer power and ability to add weight and heat to any arrangement.
The lineage of the bass guitar can be traced back to the double bass, a large, cumbersome instrument prevalent in orchestras and jazz ensembles during the 19th and early 20th centuries. As music evolved and genres like jazz and blues gained prominence, the need for a more portable and amplified bass instrument became apparent.
In the 1930s, innovators like Paul Tutmarc experimented with electrifying stringed instruments. Tutmarc’s creation of the “electro-bass” in 1935, although not widely recognised at the time, laid the groundwork for developing the electric bass guitar. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the electric bass gained traction.
Today, the bass guitar remains integral to nearly every musical genre, from jazz to metal, hip-hop to pop. In fact, a group of scientists determined the bass guitarist as the most vital member of a band on account of their ability to connect with the listener’s brain musically. This came from a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which found that people tend to be more sensitive to alterations in the lower frequencies of a bass guitar compared to changes in higher pitches found in other instruments.
Take, for instance, Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ or that section of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. There’s a reason why we enjoy the bass parts of songs, and according to another study, it’s because it makes us feel like we can take on the world. So, not only do we feel more powerful, but a good bass element can make our minds sharper while filling the track with depth and grandeur.
