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A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), keyboard bass (synth bass) or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or trombone. Many tend to be associated with at least one or more of these instruments.
Despite the associations of different bass instruments with certain genres, there are exceptions. Some rock bands and bassists used a double bass, such as Lee Rocker of Stray Cats, Barenaked Ladies and Tiger Army. Larry Graham, Bernard Edwards, Mick Hogan, Andy Fraser, and Mel Schacher used an electric bass guitar. Some funk, R&B and jazz, fusion groups use synth bass or keyboard bass rather than electric bass. Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell have used a synth bass. Some traditional jazz bands use double bass or electric bass instead of a tuba; Bill Johnson and Steve Brown was one of the earliest double bassists in the New Orleans traditional jazz genre. In some jazz groups and , the basslines are played by a Hammond organ player, who uses the bass pedal keyboard or the lower manual for the low notes. Keyboard driven bass also occurs occasionally in rock bands, such as Atomic Rooster, and the Doors whose keyboardist Ray Manzarek notably used a Fender Rhodes piano bass with his left hand.
Bass lines often emphasize the root note, with a secondary role for the third, and fifth of each chord being used in a given song. In addition, pedal point (repeated or sustained single notes), , and bass are also used as bass lines. While most electric bass players rarely play chords (three or more notes all sounded at the same time), chords are used in some styles, especially funk, R&B, soul music, jazz, rock, Latin and heavy metal music. Phil Lesh, a bassist for the rock band Grateful Dead was known for treating bass lines as counterparts, rather than emphasizing the root note. Lemmy Kilmister, bassist for rock bands Hawkwind and Motörhead, was described by some musicians and writers to have a playing style reminiscent of an acoustic guitarist, sometimes using chords.
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