bass

Bass is a term that appears in music, biology, and acoustics to denote low pitches and the instruments, sounds, or organisms associated with them. In everyday language it often refers to the low end of the musical spectrum or to the fish and instrument families that produce it.

Bass (fish) refers to several freshwater game fishes in the genus Micropterus within the sunfish family Centrarchidae. Native to North America, they are common in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs and have been widely introduced elsewhere. The best known species are largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu); other forms include spotted bass (M. punctulatus) and various hybrids. Bass are active predators, feeding on smaller fish, insects, and crustaceans. They are valued for sport fishing and are the subject of management programs addressing habitat, water quality, and population dynamics.

Bass in music refers to low-pitched voices and instruments. The most prominent are the double bass, also called the contrabass or upright bass, the largest violin-family instrument. It is typically tuned to E1–A1–D2–G2 and used in classical orchestras, chamber music, and jazz, with players bowing or plucking the strings. The term also covers the electric bass guitar, a four-string instrument tuned to E–A–D–G, or extended-range variants, which is central to modern popular, rock, and funk music and is usually amplified in ensembles.

In acoustics and audio production, bass denotes the low end of the audible spectrum. Frequencies commonly labeled bass range roughly from 20 Hz up to about 250 Hz, with sub-bass extending below 60 Hz. Reproducing bass effectively requires appropriate loudspeakers, enclosures, and mixing techniques to maintain balance with midrange and treble content.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French basse, from Latin bassus meaning thick or low.