Piccolo bass was made famous by bassist Stanley Clarke back in the 1970's. It's a fabulous instrument for playing melodies and chords, giving the bassist the opportunity to explore music in a new way, beyond that of a regular bass, and express themselves in a different musical context.
What is a piccolo bass?
A bass which has been tuned one octave higher than conventional bass tuning. The tuning is the same as the lower four strings on a guitar.
If it replicates guitar tuning, what is the point of playing it instead of a guitar?
For a bass player, a piccolo bass offers the best of both worlds. It provides more versatility for soloing but also retains the familiar scale, length and string spacing of a bass guitar.
A piccolo bass opens up a whole new world of sound and creativity for a bassist, being played like a guitar, with chords, finger-picking parts and also with distortion.
What strings can be used on a piccolo bass?
There are three possibilities, dependent upon size and scale.
Conventional bass strings
Some models might be strung with conventional bass strings. Afterall, they are the perfect fit for a bass guitar, just tuned the same as the four lower strings on a guitar.
Conventional guitar strings
It's a question of size and scale as to whether conventional guitar strings will fit. Some short-scale models might be strung with conventional guitar strings.
Piccolo strings
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Generally, piccolo basses have special string sets with larger ball ends (to hold in the larger drilled holes in a bass bridge) and to fit the longer scale length.
What are the differences between piccolo bass and guitar?
Size and proportion
The size and proportion of a piccolo bass is very different to a guitar. Often, piccolo basses are conventional bass guitars which have been converted to piccolo strings and tuning. They have a longer scale than a guitar. The string tensions are thereby different; they simply don't feel like guitar strings.
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Sound
The sound of a piccolo bass is different to a guitar, especially if it is fretless. While the pitch of the strings is guitar-like (it's tuning is in the same range as a guitar) the piccolo bass perhaps offers a warmer tone than the guitar. It has its own unique sound, probably due to its longer scale length amongst other things. Ultimately, it sounds like a piccolo bass; not a guitar or a bass.
And why not?
Music is about creativity and a piccolo bass brings something different instrumentally and musically.
Read more about the history, design considerations and notable players here.
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