bassist

American  

[bay-sist] / ˈbeɪ sɪst /

noun

• bassists
  plural

1. a singer with a bass voice.

2. a player of a bass instrument, especially of the bass viol.

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bassist British  

/ ˈbeɪsɪst /

noun

1. a player of a double bass, esp in a jazz band

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bassists
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of bassist

First recorded in 1865–70; bass ¹ + -ist

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Explanation

If you're a musician who plays a low-pitched instrument, especially a double bass or a bass guitar, you're a bassist. All bassists play instruments with deep, low tones, and the word derives from a Latin root meaning "low." In a rock band, the bassist usually plays a bass guitar, and along with the drummer, provides the rhythm that forms a song's foundation. The bassist also plays notes that harmonize with the rest of the band's instruments, such as other guitars and keyboards. Classical and jazz bassists do something similar, but they usually play the double bass, the largest instrument of the violin family: It's so big that it is stood upright on the floor while the bassist stands or sits on a high stool to play it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bassist bassists

Since the band split, frontman Bernard Fanning has maintained a solo career while bassist John Collins has gone on to open two of Brisbane's largest live music venues.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

Gwar bassist Casey Orr confirmed Varga’s death, which came after a cancer battle, in a post to social media on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

The set began with a five-minute delay due to technical issues, during which bassist Kate Halter — impressively — performed several handstands to pass the time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

Singer Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell reunited in late 2024 after a six-year split.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

Turns out I will not become a bassist today.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

But rock-band bassists were in short supply, so I fooled around on the bass.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Low, which was essentially the couple with a series of bassists over the years, released its first album, “I Could Live in Hope,” in 1994.

From New York Times ● Nov. 11, 2022

I love his recording of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” with fellow bassists John Clayton and Christian McBride.

From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2022

His parents bought him a drum kit when he was 14, and he often played with his next-door neighbor, Dave Green, who became one of England’s top jazz bassists.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 24, 2021

I go up to the fourth floor to meet the other bassists.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

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