Adapting the Bass Guitar for One-Handed Playing

Abstract

This paper presents a prototype system for adapting the bass guitar for one-handed musicians. We discuss existing solutions to accessible musical instruments, followed by the results of an online survey of bass guitarists, which informed the design of a prototype bass guitar adaptation. The adaptation comprises a foot-operated MIDI controller with a solenoid-actuated fretting mechanism, providing access to six frets across two strings of the bass. A study involving six bassists rehearsing and writing a bass guitar accompaniment with the adapted bass highlighted unexpected facets of bass guitar playing, and provided insights into the design of future accessible string instruments.

Keywords:

• instruments
• interfaces
• performance
• social aspects

Notes

Jacob Harrison. Centre for Digital Music, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

1 http://skoogmusic.com/

2 http://www.drakemusic.org/our-work/research-development/artist-led-projects/john-kelly-the-kellycaster/

3 http://www.ohmi.org.uk/previous-winning-instruments.html

4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eskvyuzF1-Y

5 http://www.stick.com/

6 http://www.the-three-sirens.info/

7 http://warp.net/news/squarepusher-music-for-robots/

8 https://compressorhead.rocks/

9 In particular, author and journalist Sarah Kovac provides video examples of her using her feet to type, apply makeup and play the piano: http://sarahkovac.com/popularvideos/

10 https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/softstep/

11 https://www.arturia.com/beatstep/overview

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by EPSRC and AHRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Media and Arts Technology [grant number EP/L01632X/1].