Design and Ergonomics in the Electric Bass conception

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2026.62469

Keywords:

Usability, Anthropometric Diversity, User Experience, Design, Electric Bass

Abstract

The study investigates the main factors to be considered in the ergonomic design of the electric bass, emphasizing the role of design in adapting musical instruments to the bodily diversity of users. The research, both theoretical and empirical, is based on a literature review and an online questionnaire conducted with bass players, whose responses were qualitatively analyzed through Laurence Bardin’s Content Analysis method. The results reveal recurrent ergonomic limitations in current models, particularly regarding weight, balance, and adjustments, with greater impact among female musicians. It concludes that the standardization of instruments overlooks significant anthropometric variations, reinforcing the need for more inclusive and user-centered design practices. For future studies, the methodological approach proposed by Bruno Munari is suggested as a tool to guide the stages of exploration, experimentation, and validation of ergonomic solutions in musical instrument design.

Author Biographies

  • Ricardo Faustino Teles, Federal Institute of Brasília, Brazil

    He is a professor at the Federal Institute of Brasília (IFB), Samambaia campus, where he has worked in Professional and Technological Education (EPT) since 2010. He holds a PhD in Forest Sciences from the University of Brasília and is a faculty member of IFB’s Professional Master’s Program in Professional and Technological Education (ProfEPT). He coordinates research projects focused on the technological assessment of materials, innovation in product design, the history and memory of professional education, and the interrelation between art and design, with publications in national and international journals. In addition to teaching and research, he serves on academic committees, acts as a journal reviewer, and supervises master’s students, actively contributing to the strengthening of applied research and teacher education in the field of EPT.

  • Bruna Leitão, Federal Institute of Brasília, Brazil

    She is a product designer graduated from the Federal Institute of Brasília, where she works in the field of musical instrument development, conducting research focused on ergonomics and the evaluation of product design projects. She is also a bassist trained at the Brasília School of Music.

References

Araújo, Blau. 2008. Anatomia do contrabaixo. Blues & Bass.

Bardin, Laurence. 2011. Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70.

Baxter, Mike. 2000. Projeto de produto: guia prático para o design de novos produtos. São Paulo: Blucher.

Black, John W., and Molinaro, Albert. 2001. The Fender bass: An illustrated history. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Bonsiepe, Gui. 1997. Design: do material ao digital. São Paulo: Blucher.

Canva. 2025. Editor gráfico e banco de imagens. https://www.canva.com/

Clarkson, John, and Coleman, Roger, and Keates, Simeon, and Lebbon, Claire. (2003). Inclusive design: Design for the whole population. London: Springer.

Costa, Cristina P. 2003. Quando tocar dói: Análise ergonômica do trabalho de violistas de orquestra. Brasília: Universidade de Brasília.

Costa, Cristina P. 2007. Contribuições da ergonomia à saúde do músico: Considerações sobre a dimensão física do fazer musical. Música Hodie, 5(2).

Costa, Cristina P., and Abrahão, Júlia I. 2004. “Quando o tocar dói: Um olhar ergonômico sobre o fazer musical”. Per Musi – Revista Acadêmica de Música, 10, 60–79.

Fernandes, Luiz Felipe Ribeiro Marques. 2011. “Correlações entre força de preensão manual e variáveis antropométricas da mão de jovens adultos”. Fisioterapia e Pesquisa, 18(2), 151–156.

Fontes, Paulo César Duarte. 2023. O desenvolvimento físico do contrabaixo elétrico: Um breve relato. Aracaju: Universidade Federal de Sergipe.

Frank, Ana, and Mühlen, Cíntia A. von. 2007. “Queixas musculoesqueléticas em músicos: Prevalência e fatores de risco”. Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia, 47(3), 188–196.

Gomes Filho, João. 2010. Ergonomia do objeto. São Paulo: Escrituras Editora.

Gomes Filho, João. 2020. Design do objeto. São Paulo: Escrituras Editora.

Guptill, Carolyn. 2011. “The lived experience of professional musicians with playing-related injuries: A phenomenological inquiry”. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 26(2), 84–95.

Hsuan-An, Ting. 2017. Design: Conceitos e métodos. Blucher.

Iida, Itiro. 2005. Ergonomia: Projeto e produção. 2nd ed. São Paulo: Blucher.

Kok, Laura M., and Visscher, Carien M., and Meeuwsen, Coen. 2016. “Musculoskeletal complaints in professional musicians: A systematic review”. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 26(3), 373–388.

Kroemer, Karl H. E., and Grandjean, Etienne. 2005. Manual de ergonomia: Adaptando o trabalho ao homem. Porto Alegre: Bookman.

Löbach, Bernd. 2001. Design industrial: Bases para a configuração dos produtos industriais. São Paulo: Blucher.

Lopes, João Victor. 2015. Análise cinesiológica dos movimentos do contrabaixista. Master’s thesis. Belo Horizonte: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Medeiros, Gabriela Pereira; et al. 2024. “Ensino instrumental centrado no aluno e consciência corporal”. Revista da Tulha.

Munari, Bruno. 1998. Das coisas nascem coisas. São Paulo: Martins Fontes.

Norman, Donald A. 2006. O design do dia a dia. 2nd ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Rocco.

Paschoarelli, Luiz Carlos, and Menezes, Maurício Silva. 2009. Design e ergonomia: Aspectos tecnológicos. São Paulo: Cultura Acadêmica.

Paschoarelli, Luiz Carlos; et al. 2010. “Antropometria da mão humana: Influência do gênero no design ergonômico de instrumentos manuais”. Revista Ação Ergonômica, 5(2), 1–8.

Pederiva, Patrícia Lopes Marcondes. 2004. “A relação músico-corpo-instrumento: Procedimentos pedagógicos”. Revista da ABEM, 12(11).

Pexels. 2025. Banco de imagens gratuitas. https://www.pexels.com/pt-br/

Santos, Rita de Cássia Pereira, and André Luiz A. da Silva, Juliana de Souza Santos, and Fátima Regina P. Lima. 2013. “Sintomas musculoesqueléticos em músicos: Uma revisão de literatura.” Revista de Pesquisa em Fisioterapia 3 (2): 120–132.

Souza, Rafael Augusto de. 2013. Dor e prazer na prática musical. Rio de Janeiro: PUC-Rio.

Souza, Rafael Augusto, and Mont’Alvão, Cláudia Renata. 2014. “Dor e prazer na prática musical: As emoções, sentimentos e o estado de flow na prática de músicos instrumentistas”. Blucher Design Proceedings, 1(4).

Zaza, Christine; Farewell, Vernon Thomas. 1997. “Musicians’ playing-related musculoskeletal disorders: An examination of risk factors”. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 32(3), 292–300.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-10

Issue

Vol. 27 (2026): General Topics

Section

Articles in Portuguese/Spanish

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Per Musi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Licença Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, contents on this site are licensed under a  Creative Commons - Atribuição 4.0 Internacional.

How to Cite

“Design and Ergonomics in the Electric Bass Conception”. 2026. Per Musi 27 (March): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2026.62469.