Final answer:
The figure of speech 'each bass note is like a hand smacking the gut' is a simile because it uses the word 'like' to compare two unlike things.
Step-by-step explanation:
The figure of speech where it is stated 'each bass note is like a hand smacking the gut' would be identified as a simile. This is because it compares the sound of the bass notes to the action of a hand smacking the gut, using the word 'like', which is a clear indicator of a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that makes an indirect comparison between two unlike things using the word as or like.