- Keyboard bass
The "keyboard bass" is the use of a low-pitched keyboard or
pedal keyboard to substitute for thebass guitar ordouble bass in popular music.History
1960s
The earliest keyboard bass instrument was the 1960
Fender Rhodes piano bass, pictured above. The piano bass was an electric piano with the same pitch range as the electric bass (or the double bass), which could be used to perform basslines. It could be placed on top of a piano or organ, or mounted on a stand. As well, keyboard players such asThe Doors 'Ray Manzarek placed hisFender Rhodes bass on top of his organ to play basslines.1970s and 1980s
In the 1970s, a variant form of keyboard bass,
bass pedals , became popular. Bass pedals which arepedal keyboard s operated by musicians using their feet. The guitar player or bass player of a bands such as Genesis'Mike Rutherford ,John Paul Jones (musician) ofLed Zeppelin during acoustic sets, Rush (bassistGeddy Lee ), The Police (bassist Sting) orMarillion (Pete Trewavas ) use the bass pedals to play bass lines.Stevie Wonder pioneered the use of synthesizer keyboard bass, notably onBoogie on Reggae Woman . During these decades the keyboard bass in its original form was still in use by some bands such asthe B-52's 1990s and 2000s
In the 1990s and 2000s, 13-note MIDI keyboard controllers are used to play the basslines in some pop groups. Keyboard bass instruments are a common alternative to bass guitars in rap, modern
R&B , and in electronic dance music such ashouse music . As well, bassists from bands such asNo Doubt sometimes perform basslines on 13 note MIDI keyboards.Jack White ofThe White Stripes uses a vintage Rhodes Piano Bass live, particularly on performances ofMy Doorbell .References
*Information about early keyboard basses can be found at [http://www.fenderrhodes.com/models/early.php the Fender Rhodes site.]
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