Bassline

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn/

Definitions

1. A primary musical component that delivers harmonic and rhythmic backing while emphasizing lower frequencies in a composition
2. A central musical element that provides both rhythmic structure and harmonic depth, typically occupying the lower frequency range within a composition
3. The core sequence of low-pitched notes that supports the harmony and rhythm in a song

Etymology: "Bassline" is a plain compound: "bass," the lowest part in a piece of music, joined to "line," the sequence of notes that forms a melody or part. The word "bass" itself comes from "bass" meaning "low," an adjective from the same root as "base," and it was applied to the lowest voice in harmony, the part sitting beneath the others. Put together, a bassline is simply the line of notes running along the bottom of a harmony, the foundation the upper voices rest on. The term is most closely tied to bass guitar and electronic music, where the bassline often carries the groove and can be as memorable as the melody. The compound is transparent, so its meaning sits almost exactly where its two parts point.

Synonyms: bass part, bass sequence