Editing Michael Manring (section)

==Music and musical influences==
Because of his association with the Windham Hill label Manring often was seen as a [[New Age music]]ian. He doesn't see himself as belonging to a certain style or genre and often jokes about categorizing his music. His album ''Thonk'' he termed for example "... the first new Age–[[death metal]]–[[Fusion (music)|fusion]]–album".<ref name="AP-Interview" />

Manring has a solid musical knowledge and uses the bass as a solo instrument usually in alternate tunings, with additional possibilities and patterns invoked on the fly with lever-activated de-tuners and bridges, somewhat like a [[pedal steel guitar]]. He wants to show that the electric bass can be used in a musically rich and expressive way.<ref name="AP-Interview"/> Manring occasionally plays on two (or even three or four) basses at the same time during live performances. Manring is also a composer of experimental music, mixing technology and fretless bass with the sounds of kitchen implements and cardboard boxes, evidenced on his "Book of Flame" solo album.

He is a technical virtuoso, generally using his bass in very different ways. Mostly he plays a fretless bass, which gives him ample possibilities to change tone and pitch just like on acoustic bass. Manring is rhythmically very versatile and often uses [[polyrhythm]]s.<ref name="AP-Interview"/> He's said to do "... things on the electric bass that haven't been done before, are nearly impossible, and (are) illegal in most states.".<ref>[http://cdbaby.com/cd/manthing CD-Baby review of CD ''Soliloquy''.] Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> A unique technique employed by Manring is utilizing Hipshot D tuners to change the tuning of one or more strings over the course of playing a piece.