Lemmy Kilmister, the lead singer and bassist of Motörhead, performing in 2005.
Heavy metal bass is the use of the bass guitar (also called "electric bass") in the rock music genres of heavy metal and hard rock. The bassist is part of the rhythm section in a heavy metal band, along with the drummer, rhythm guitarist and, in some bands, a keyboard player. The prominent role of the bass is key to the metal sound, and the interplay of bass and distorted electric guitar is a central element of metal. The bass guitar provides the low-end sound crucial to making the music "heavy".[1] The bass plays a crucial role in heavy metal and a more important role than in traditional rock."[2]
Metal bassists play many different types of basslines, depending on the subgenre they are playing in and their personal playing style. Metal bass lines vary in complexity, from holding down a low pedal point as a foundation for the band's sound to doubling complex riffs and licks along with the lead guitar and/or rhythm guitars. Some bands feature the bass as a lead instrument, an approach popularized by Metallica's Cliff Burton with his emphasis on bass guitar solos and use of chords while playing bass in the early 1980s.[3] Some metal bassists sing lead vocals while they play bass, such as Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead and Tom Araya of Slayer. Some metal bassists sing backup vocals while they play bass.
^Weinstein (2000), p. 24
^Weinstein (2009), p. 24
^"Cliff Burton's Legendary Career: The King of Metal Bass" Archived 2015-11-06 at the Wayback Machine. Bass Player, February 2005. Retrieved on November 13, 2007.
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American semi-retired musician, best known as the original bass guitarist in the thrash metal band Metallica from October 1981 to December 1982. Having...
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of Death Metal. I was down there and I mentioned to them, "Why don't I come up and do "Millionaire" or something, and sing it and not play bass?" [Josh]...
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