Editing Keyboard bass (section)

==History==
===Early keyboard bass===
The pipe organ is the first, and the forefather of keyboard bass instruments. The bass [[pedal keyboard]] was developed in the 13th century. The keys for the hands are also capable of playing very low pipe tones.

===1960s===
[[Image:Rhodes Piano Bass.jpg|thumb|[[Rhodes piano|Rhodes Piano]] Bass (1960)]]
{{For|keytar-style basses|List of keytars}}

The earliest keyboard bass instrument was the 1960 [[Fender Rhodes]] piano bass, pictured to the right. The piano bass was essentially an [[electric piano]] containing the same pitch range as the most widely-used notes on an electric bass (or the double bass), which could be used to perform [[bass line]]s. It could be placed on top of a piano or organ, or mounted on a stand. Keyboard players such as [[The Doors]]' [[Ray Manzarek]] placed his [[Fender Rhodes]] piano bass on top of his [[Vox Continental]] or [[Gibson G-101]] organ to play bass lines. About the same time, [[Hohner]] of Germany introduced a purely electronic bass keyboard, the Basset, which had a two-octave keyboard and rudimentary controls allowing a choice of [[tuba]] or string bass sounds. The Basset was in due course replaced by the Bass 2 and, in the mid-1970s, the Bass 3. All three were transistorized; the Basset was among the earliest solid-state electronic instruments. Similar instruments were produced in Japan under the "Raven" and "Rheem Kee Bass" {{sic}} names. 
{{Clear}}

===1970s and 1980s===
{{multiple image |direction=horizontal |align=right |width=220
 | image1   = Moog Taurus (small).jpg
 | caption1 = [[Moog Taurus]] (1976&ndash;1981)
}}
{{See also|Minimoog}}

In the 1970s, a variant form of keyboard bass, [[bass pedals]], became popular. Bass pedals are [[pedal keyboard]]s operated by musicians using their feet. The guitar players or bass players of bands such as [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]' [[Mike Rutherford]], [[Yes (band)|Yes]]' [[Chris Squire]], [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] during acoustic sets, [[Geddy Lee]] of [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[The Police (band)|The Police]] (bassist [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]), or [[Atomic Rooster]] (organist [[Vincent Crane]]) use the bass pedals to play bass lines. [[Stevie Wonder]] pioneered the use of synthesizer keyboard bass, notably on "[[Boogie on Reggae Woman]]". [[Funk]], [[R&B]], [[Gangsta rap|G Rap]] and [[Hip hop music|hiphop]] musicians such as [[Parliament-Funkadelic|George Clinton & Parliament]], [[Funkadelic]], [[Roger & Zapp]], [[Dr. Dre]], [[E-40]], [[EPMD]], and [[Kashif (musician)|Kashif]] used synth bass.<ref>[http://www.synthmania.com/Famous%20Sounds.htm SynthMania: Famous Sounds]</ref> During these decades the keyboard bass in its original form was still in use by some bands such as [[the B-52's]], who used a [[Korg SB-100]] "Synth-Bass". 
{{Clear}}

===1990s-present===
[[Image:Novation BassStation.jpg|thumb|[[Novation Digital Music Systems|Novation]] BassStation (1993)]]

Since the 1990s, [[MIDI]] keyboard controllers, often smaller 25-note models, have been used by some groups to play bass lines with virtual instruments such as [[synthesizer]]s and [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]]. Keyboard bass instruments are frequently used in [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], [[contemporary R&B]], and [[pop music]], and in [[electronic dance music]] genres such as [[house music]]. MIDI keyboards are used by [[Bedroom production|bedroom producers]] and studio musicians alike, thanks to their affordability, portability, and the fact that they can be used to control multiple virtual instruments, rather than simply bass. As well, bassists from bands such as [[No Doubt]] sometimes perform bass lines on 25-note MIDI keyboards. [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White]] of [[The White Stripes]] uses a vintage Rhodes Piano Bass live, particularly on performances of "[[My Doorbell]]". During [[Lady Gaga]]'s [[The Monster Ball Tour]], keyboardist and bassist Lanar "Kern" Brantley played synth bass on the Roland GAIA and [[Roland V-Synth]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Roland Onstage with Lady Gaga and The Monster Ball Tour|url=http://www2.rolandus.com/community/roland_users_group/article/1168|website=Roland Users Group|access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref>