1. HISTORY OF THE DOUBLE BASS
• The 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.Before the 20th century many double basses had only three
strings, in contrast to the five to six strings typical of instruments in
the viol family or the four strings of instruments in the violin family.
The double bass's proportions are dissimilar to those of the violin
and cello; for example, it is deeper (the distance from top to back is
proportionally much greater than the violin). In addition, while the
violin has bulging shoulders, most double basses have shoulders
carved with a more acute slope, like members of the viol family.
Many very old double basses have had their shoulders cut or sloped
to aid playing with modern techniques. Before these modifications,
the design of their shoulders was closer to instruments of the violin
family.
2. DESCRIPTION
• The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched
bowed string instrument in the modern symphony
orchestra. It is a transposing instrument and is
typically notated one octave higher than sounding
to avoid excessive ledger lines. The double bass is
the only modern bowed string instrument that is
tuned in fourths (like a viol), rather than fifths,
with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2, and G2.
The instrument's exact lineage is still a matter of
some debate, with scholars divided on whether
the bass is derived from the viol or the violin
family.
3. • The double bass is a standard member of the
orchestra's string section,as well as the concert band,
and is featured in concertos, solo and chamber music
in Western classical music. The 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 many
types of folk music.
• The double bass is played either with a bow (arco) or
by plucking the strings (pizzicato). In orchestral
repertoire and tango music, both arco and pizzicato are
employed. In jazz, blues, and rockabilly, pizzicato is the
norm. While classical music uses just the natural sound
produced acoustically by the instrument, in jazz, blues,
and related genres, the bass is typically amplified with
a bass amplifier.
7. PLAYING STYLE
• Like other violin and viol-family string instruments, the
double bass is played either with a bow (arco) or by
plucking the strings (pizzicato). In orchestral repertoire and
tango music, both arco and pizzicato are employed. In jazz,
blues, and rockabilly, pizzicato is the norm, except for some
solos and also occasional written parts in modern jazz that
call for bowing.
• The 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. This stance
is a key reason for the bass's sloped shoulders, which mark
it apart from the other members of the violin family—the
narrower shoulders facilitate playing the strings in their
higher registers
