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Bass (Music The string which gives)

in music. (1), The string which gives a bass sound. (2) An instrument which plays the bass part; especially of the violoncello or bass-viol, and the contrabasso or double bass. Both this and the previous sense are found in the following example: (3) The lowest of the principal human voices; those higher in pitch being, respectively, baritone, tenor, alto or contralto, mezzosoprano, soprano. (4) The portion of a choir singing the bass part; also the portion of string band playing the bass part. (5) The lowest instrument of any class or family of instruments; as bass clarionet, bass flute, bass horn, bass trombone, bass tuba, bass viol or base viol. (6) The string of lowest pitch on a string instrument having deep sounds. (7) Bass clef: The lowest sign of absolute pitch used in music; the F clef.

A fundamental bass: The supposed generator or foundation of any harmonic combination. Thus C is said to be the fundamental base of the chord G, C, E.

Thorough or continuous bass: Originally the bass part figured for the player on a harpsichord or organ. Hence, the art of adding chords to a figured bass; the art of harmony.