Question: Who is the most important member of a band? Before you answer, listen to this.
The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America has issued a study run by Laurel Trainor of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, which says listeners are more perceptive of bass frequencies than notes higher up on the scale. Called “Superior time perception for lower musical pitch explains why bass-ranged instruments lay down musical rhythms,” the team used EEG measurements as people listened to a variety of piano notes.
After all the data was parsed, it was determined that people are more in tune with bass notes than any other part of the musical spectrum. In other words, the thing that keeps listeners anchored to the song more than anything else is whatever the bass player is doing. Time to give that person new respect.
© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices