Feel the beat: Music, bass, and movement

Michael Hove

Associate Professor

Fitchburg State University, MA, USA

In this talk, I will discuss movement to music and musical features associated with body movement. People often move to music that features a repetitive rhythm and strong bass. I will present several studies that establish links between body movement and bass. The link between movement and bass appears rooted in physiology (i.e., in auditory encoding and vibrotactile activation) and explains the musical convention for low-pitched instruments to lay down the rhythm. I conclude with applications, such as using bass to boost social connection.