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What is the difference between tenor and bass?

tenor | bass |

Bass is a coordinate term of tenor.



As nouns the difference between tenor and bass

is that tenor is musical part or section that holds or performs the main melody, as opposed to the contratenor bassus and contratenor altus, who perform countermelodies while bass is a low spectrum of sound tones.

As adjectives the difference between tenor and bass

is that tenor is of or pertaining to the tenor part or range while bass is of sound, a voice or an instrument, low in pitch or frequency.

As a verb bass is

to sound in a deep tone.

As a proper noun Bass is

an English brand of bottled pale ale.

tenor

English

Alternative forms

* (l)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (archaic, music) Musical part or section that holds or performs the main melody, as opposed to the contratenor bassus'' and ''contratenor altus , who perform countermelodies.
  • (obsolete) duration; continuance; a state of holding on in a continuous course; general tendency; career.
  • * Gray
  • Along the cool sequestered vale of life / They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
  • (music) Musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.
  • A person, instrument or group that performs in the tenor (higher than bass and lower than alto) range.
  • Tone, as of a conversation.
  • *
  • (linguistics) The subject in a metaphor to which attributes are ascribed.
  • (finance) Time to maturity of a bond.
  • Stamp; character; nature.
  • * Dryden
  • This success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same tenor .
  • (legal) An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport , which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.
  • (Bouvier)
  • That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.
  • * Shakespeare
  • When it [the bond] is paid according to the tenor .
  • * Spart
  • Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?

    Derived terms

    * Old Tenor, Middle Tenor, New Tenor

    Coordinate terms

    * (voice types) soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)

    See also

    * ("tenor" on Wikipedia)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • of or pertaining to the tenor part or range
  • He has a tenor voice.

    Anagrams

    * ----

    bass

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of sound, a voice or an instrument, low in pitch or frequency.
  • The giant spoke in a deep, bass , rumbling voice that shook me to my boots.

    Noun

    (es)
  • A low spectrum of sound tones.
  • Peter adjusted the equalizer on his audio equipment to emphasize the bass .
  • A section of musical group that produces low-pitched sound, lower than tenor.
  • The conductor preferred to situate the bass in the middle rear, rather than to one side of the orchestra.
  • A male singer who sings in the bass range.
  • Halfway through middle school, Edgar morphed from a soprano to a bass , much to the amazement and amusement of his fellow choristers.
  • An instrument that plays in the bass range, in particular a double bass, bass guitar, electric bass or bass synthesiser.
  • The musician swung the bass over his head like an axe and smashed it into the amplifier, creating a discordant howl of noise.
  • The clef sign that indicates that the pitch of the notes is below middle C; a bass clef.
  • The score had been written without the treble and bass , but it was easy to pick out which was which based on the location of the notes on the staff.
    Synonyms
    * (singer) basso * (clef) F clef
    Coordinate terms
    * (voice types) soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)
    Derived terms
    * bass clef * bass drum * bass guitar * bassline * bass music * bass note * booty bass * double bass * electric bass * figured bass * Miami bass

    Verb

  • To sound in a deep tone.
  • * 1623 [1610], (William Shakespeare), The Tempest (First Folio ed.), act III, scene iii, lines 99-99
  • and the Thunder
    (That deepe and dreadfull Organ-Pipe) pronounc'd
    The name of Pro?per : it did ba?e my Tre?pa??e

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) bas, alteration of bars, from (etyl) .

    Noun

  • The perch; any of various marine and freshwater fish resembling the perch, all within the order of Perciformes.
  • Derived terms
    * black bass * black sea bass * largemouth bass * sea bass * smallmouth bass * spotted bass * striped bass * white bass

    Etymology 3

    A corruption of bast.

    Noun

    (es)
  • The linden or lime tree.
  • Its bark, used for making mats.
  • A hassock or thick mat.