bass
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bass
A very low tone or frequency range in music. It describes the sound that you can often feel in your stomach.
Dreh mal den Bass etwas runter, die Nachbarn beschweren sich sonst.
Turn the bass down a bit, or the neighbors will complain.
In German, 'der Bass' refers only to music: a low tone, an instrument, or a singer. The English word 'bass' can also mean a fish. The fish is called 'der Barsch' in German.
In diesem Lied gefällt mir der Bass besonders gut.
I especially like the bass in this song.
The three meanings can be distinguished well from context. If people are talking about sound, you hear or feel the bass. If they are talking about the instrument, someone plays or learns it. If they are talking about a person, that person sings in a choir or opera.
Man konnte den Bass durch den Boden spüren.
You could feel the bass through the floor.
When it is about the sound, 'Bass' is often used with verbs like 'aufdrehen' (to turn up), 'runterdrehen' (to turn down), or 'spüren' (to feel). People also speak of a 'tiefer' (deep) or 'starker' (strong) bass.
Die Musik hat einen wummernden Bass.
The music has a booming bass.
As an instrument, 'Bass' is often specified more precisely as 'E-Bass' (electric bass) or 'Kontrabass' (double bass).
Im Jazz-Trio spielt jemand Kontrabass.
In the jazz trio, someone plays double bass.
guitar
'die Gitarre' and 'der Bass' can both be stringed instruments and often appear together in a band. A guitar usually plays higher notes, chords, or melodies. A bass plays very low notes and often gives the music its rhythm and foundation. Learners may confuse the words because an electric bass looks similar to an electric guitar. When it is about low notes or the low accompaniment in a band, 'Bass' is more precise. When it is about the typical six-string plucked instrument, 'Gitarre' fits.
Bei dem Konzert hört man den Bass besonders stark.
At the concert, you can hear the bass especially strongly.
Lena übt jeden Abend Gitarre, weil sie ein Lied begleiten möchte.
Lena practices guitar every evening because she wants to accompany a song.