1. The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra. 2. The origin of the name of the double bass stems from the fact that its initial function was to double the bass line of large ensembles.
What is the double in double bass?
In instrument names, the adjective “double” usually means the pitch of the instrument is an octave below the “normal size.” For wind instruments, the instrument is also double the length of the normal sized instrument – for example “double bassoon.” “Double” is also used for organ stops that sound an octave lower than
What is the difference between a bass and a double bass?
The double bass provides a more low-end frequency sound, whereas the standard bass guitar has a bit more punch. They’re played in different ways as well. The double bass requires an upright position and is considered harder to hold and play because it sometimes requires a bow or plucking the strings with your fingers.
Who invented the double bass?
It started with jazz legend Louie Bellson, a gifted musical school kid of 15 in 1939, who sketched out a double bass drum kit for an art class.
What is special about the double bass?
The Double Bass is a (very) Big Instrument
It’s the largest bowed/plucked instrument in an orchestral line-up, meaning there are no bigger instruments that require a bow or finger plucking to play. As a result, double bass players often have some of the biggest muscles in the orchestra.
Why is bass called bass?
The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species, all belonging to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes. The word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning ‘perch’.
What is another name for double bass?
contrabass
double bass, also called contrabass, string bass, bass, bass viol, bass fiddle, or bull fiddle, French contrebasse, German Kontrabass, stringed musical instrument, the lowest-pitched member of the violin family, sounding an octave lower than the cello.
What is a giant guitar called?
What is a Guitarron? The Guitarrón is a large bass guitar. Guitarrón translates to large guitar – the suffix means big or large. It has 6 strings – 3 that are nylon wound with a nylon monofilament core or nylon fibers, and 3 that are steel, bronze or copper wound with a single steel string core.
Why is the double bass tuned in fourths?
“Tuning in fourths, although it reduces the range of the open strings, has now become the generally recognised choice for the double bass.” It allows for a four-stringed instrument, which reaches most of the desired range, to be able to execute rapid scale passages with minimal left-hand position changes (shifts).
Is double bass hard to learn?
The double bass is a tough master – demanding strength, stamina and proper technique from its player. As the root of the orchestra, musical and rhythmic accuracy are imperative to the success of the whole – requiring plenty of practice and repetition.
How heavy is a double bass?
The DB will run approximately 20 to 25 lbs and the trunk can be anywhere from 45 lbs to well, a lot more, depending on the trunk.
What is the highest note on a double bass?
G4
The highest note for the bass guitar or double bass is typically considered G4 at 392 Hz. The double bass is the only string instrument in the standard symphony orchestra that is tuned to perfect fourths instead of perfect fifths.
How loud is a double bass?
RESULTS
| Instrument | Left ear (dBA) | Right ear (dBA) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | Minimum | |
| Viola | 98.6 | 82.1 |
| Cello | 87.1 | 81.5 |
| Double bass | 86.1 | 84.5 |
Can you play a double bass with a bow?
If you are a classical player be sure to check our classical music lessons. In this lesson, Jason explains what a good sound looks like. In this preview lesson from Jason Heath’s course ‘Beginner’s Classical Bass’, Jason teaches bow lifts for the double bass.
Who is a famous double bass player?
1. Edgar Meyer. What is this? Born in Tulsa, Okla., double bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer grew up in Tennessee, the son of a public school orchestra teacher.
Why are double basses so big?
To accommodate the additional fifth string, the fingerboard is usually slightly widened, and the top slightly thicker, to handle the increased tension. Most five-string basses are therefore larger in size than a standard four-string bass. Some five-stringed instruments are converted four-string instruments.
Why is it base and not bass?
Base comes from the Latin word basis which means foundation and the Greek word basis which means step, pedestal. Bass, when pronounced as base, means the lowest pitch, an adult male who sings in the lowest pitch, any number of instruments that play the lowest pitch.
What does bass stand for?
BASS
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| BASS | Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (Montgomery, AL) |
| BASS | Bass Action Selector System |
| BASS | Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Australia) |
| BASS | Baltic Sea Solutions (Denmark) |
How many double bass are in the orchestra?
A symphony orchestra is usually made up of (give or take) around ten first violins and ten second violins, ten violas, eight cellos and six double basses.
Is a double bass a cello?
Although the cello and double bass are the largest instruments in the string family, there is a substantial difference in their size. The double bass measures in at about 6 feet long and is the largest instrument in the string family, while the cello is slightly smaller in nature.
How many octaves does a double bass have?
3 octaves
A solo player will cover some 5 or 6 octaves on his instrument using these harmonics, whereas in most orchestral music, the double bass parts seldom exceed 3 octaves.
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