61 Facts About Double bass

Double bass, known simply as the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass).

The Double bass is used in a range of other genres, such as jazz, 1950s-style blues and rock and roll, rockabilly, psychobilly, traditional country music, bluegrass, tango and folk music.

The double bass is the only modern bowed string instrument that is tuned in fourths, rather than fifths, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2.

Double bass is played with a bow, or by plucking the strings (pizzicato), or via a variety of extended techniques.

Classical Double bass players do play pizzicato parts in orchestra, but these parts generally require simple notes, rather than rapid passages.

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Double bass player stands, or sits on a high stool, and leans the instrument against their body, turned slightly inward to put the strings comfortably in reach.

Double bass is generally regarded as a modern descendant of the string family of instruments that originated in Europe in the 15th century, and as such has been described as a bass Violin.

Double bass is the only modern bowed string instrument that is tuned in fourths, rather than fifths (see Tuning below).

The instrument's exact lineage is still a matter of some debate, and the supposition that the double bass is a direct descendant of the viol family is one that has not been entirely resolved.

Double bass says that "most likely its first general shape was that of a violone, the largest member of the viol family.

Double bass is sometimes confusingly called the violone, bass violin or bass viol.

In Hungarian, the double bass is called nagybogo, which roughly translates as "big crier", referring to its large voice.

Unlike the rest of the violin family, the double bass still reflects influences from, and can be considered partly derived, from the viol family of instruments, in particular the violone, the lowest-pitched and largest bass member of the viol family.

For example, the Double bass is tuned in fourths, like a viol, rather than in fifths, which is the standard in the violin group.

Double bass is closest in construction to violins, but has some notable similarities to the violone, the largest and lowest-pitched member of the viol family.

Unlike the violin and viola, but like the cello, the Double bass fingerboard is somewhat flattened out underneath the E string, this is commonly known as a Romberg bevel.

The key on the tuning machine of a double bass turns a metal worm, which drives a worm gear that winds the string.

At the base of the double bass is a metal rod with a spiked or rubberized end called the endpin, which rests on the floor.

Famous double bass makers come from around the world and often represent varied national characteristics.

One type of travel Double bass has a much smaller body than normal, while still retaining all of the features needed for playing.

The frog of the double bass bow is usually made out of ebony, although snakewood and buffalo horn are used by some luthiers.

The double bass bow is strung with either white or black horsehair, or a combination of the two, as opposed to the customary white horsehair used on the bows of other string instruments.

Double bass rosin is generally softer and stickier than violin rosin to allow the hair to grab the thicker strings better, but players use a wide variety of rosins that vary from quite hard to quite soft, depending on the weather, the humidity, and the preference of the player.

Some brands of rosin, such as Wiedoeft or Pop's double bass rosin, are softer and more prone to melting in hot weather.

Acoustic Double bass is a non-fretted instrument, any string vibration due to plucking or bowing will cause an audible sound due to the strings vibrating against the fingerboard near to the fingered position.

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Orchestral parts from the standard Classical repertoire rarely demand the double bass exceed a two-octave and a minor third range, from E1 to G3, with occasional A3s appearing in the standard repertoire.

Double bass is generally tuned in fourths, in contrast to other members of the orchestral string family, which are tuned in fifths.

The standard tuning for Double bass is E–A–D–G, starting from E below second low C (concert pitch).

Notes below low E appear regularly in the double bass parts found in later arrangements and interpretations of Baroque music.

Six-string double bass has both a high C and a low B, making it very useful, and it is becoming more practical after several updates.

Double bass stand is used to hold the instrument in place and raise it a few inches off the ground.

Double bass eventually evolved to fit the needs of orchestras that required lower notes and a louder sound.

Double bass's playing was known all the way from his homeland Italy to the Tsardom of Russia and he found a prominent place performing in concerts with the Philharmonic Society of London.

Bottesini's bass concertos were written in the popular Italian opera style of the 19th century, which exploit the double bass in a way that was not seen beforehand.

Giacinto Scelsi wrote two double bass pieces called Nuits in 1972, and then in 1976, he wrote Maknongan, a piece for any low-voiced instrument, such as double bass, contrabassoon, or tuba.

US double bass soloist and composer Bertram Turetzky was born on 1933 and has performed and recorded more than 300 pieces written by and for him.

Double bass writes chamber music, baroque music, classical, jazz, renaissance music, improvisational music and world music.

Two significant recent works written for solo bass include, Mario Davidovsky's Synchronisms No 11 for double bass and electronic sounds and Elliott Carter's Figment III, for solo double bass.

Slightly smaller string works with the double bass include six string sonatas by Gioachino Rossini, for two violins, cello, and double bass written at the age of twelve over the course of three days in 1804.

Composers writing divisi parts for Double bass often write perfect intervals, such as octaves and fifths, but in some cases use thirds and sixths.

The principal Double bass leads entrances for the Double bass section, typically by lifting the bow or plucking hand before the entrance or indicating the entrance with the head, to ensure the section starts together.

Johannes Brahms, whose father was a double bass player, wrote many difficult and prominent parts for the double bass in his symphonies.

Richard Strauss assigned the double bass daring parts, and his symphonic poems and operas stretch the instrument to its limits.

An unamplified upright Double bass is generally the quietest instrument in a jazz band, many players of the 1920s and 1930s used the slap style, slapping and pulling the strings to produce a rhythmic "slap" sound against the fingerboard.

Jazz Double bass players are expected to improvise an accompaniment line or solo for a given chord progression.

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The upright Double bass produces a different sound than the Double bass guitar, because its strings are not stopped by metal frets, instead having a continuous tonal range on the uninterrupted fingerboard.

Many musicians feel the slower attack and percussive, woody tone of the upright Double bass gives it a more "earthy" or "natural" sound than an electric Double bass, particularly when gut strings are used.

Common rhythms in bluegrass Double bass playing involve plucking on beats 1 and 3 in time; beats 1 and 2 in time, and on the downbeat in time (waltz time).

Bluegrass Double bass lines are usually simple, typically staying on the root and fifth of each chord throughout most of a song.

An upright Double bass was the standard Double bass instrument in traditional country western music.

Upright Double bass remained an integral part of pop lineups throughout the 1950s, as the new genre of rock and roll was built largely upon the model of rhythm and blues, with strong elements derived from jazz, country, and bluegrass.

However, upright Double bass players using their instruments in these contexts faced inherent problems.

The upright Double bass is difficult to amplify in loud concert venue settings, because it can be prone to feedback howls.

The electric Double bass was easily amplified with its built-in magnetic pickups, easily portable, and easier to play in tune than an upright Double bass, thanks to the metal frets.

Upright Double bass began making a comeback in popular music in the mid-1980s, in part due to a renewed interest in earlier forms of folk and country music, as part of the roots rock and Americana trends.

French contemporary pop duet "What a day" uses double bass extended pizzicato technique with vocals and type writer.

Double bass plays bass on numerous Chuck Berry's rock and roll hits.

Classical double bass has a history of pedagogy dating back several centuries, including teaching manuals, studies, and progressive exercises that help students to develop the endurance and accuracy of the left hand, and control for the bowing hand.

Universities offer a range of double bass programs, including bachelor's degrees, Master of Music degrees, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.

Students in jazz diploma or Bachelor of Music programs take individual Double bass lessons, get experience in small jazz combos with coaching from an experienced player, and play in jazz big bands.

The ability to play electric Double bass is widely expected in country groups, in case the band is performing a classic rock or new country song.