They are often augmented by a trombone or other brass instruments. All of these early portrayals show a single large bass instrument in an ensemble with bowed instruments of the viola da braccio family. Instruments corresponding in size and appearance to a double-bass were first depicted in the early 16th century. The two aspects that constituted the principal bones of contention were the tuning and the number of strings. The story is riddled with a confusing array of differing construction, sizes and tunings. ![]() The story of the double-bass began at the same time and in the same place as that of all the other bowed instruments: about 500 years ago in Upper Italy. The question why one should prefer to stand and the other to sit is a philosophical one (- History Viola da gamba bass versus violin bass The playing position has more to do with personal taste than the size of the instrument: some soloists play standing while others prefer to sit on a long-legged stool. It is bowed overhand, the back of the hand facing the listener and the German bow, slimmer, with thinner horsehair and a wider frog which is bowed underarm, the thumb facing upward. Two types of bow are used: the French bow, which is similar to the cello bow but shorter and thicker. Horsehair is stretched between the two ends of the bow, with rosin ensuring it remains in contact with the string. The bow is shorter and thicker than the cello bow. The ribs become flatter toward the neck so they do not hinder access to the higher positions on the fingerboard.įor solo performance the strings are generally tuned a whole note higher to produce a brighter timbre (scordatura). They give the double-bass a rather box-like appearance, which has earned it the affectionate nickname “doghouse" among jazz musicians. The ribs are very high in relation to the other stringed instruments, which is necessary to achieve the required resonance. Historically and in terms of its original construction the double-bass belongs to the gamba family, but the developments it underwent made it increasingly similar to the instruments of the violin family. Inside the body a wide cross bar reinforces the sound post. The F-shaped sound holes, the scroll, the often rounded back and the ribs with corners come from the violin. From the gamba it retains the sloping shoulders, the generally relatively flat back and the string tunings to fourths (older instruments also retain the frets and the five to six strings). In its modern form it is a hybrid, combining elements of both the viola da gamba and the violin families. The double-bass differs in several ways from the instruments of the violin family. The double-bass is the contrabass instrument of the string section and is not strictly speaking a member of the violin family (violin, viola, cello). Somewhat shorter and heavier than the cello bow. Bow stick made of Pernambuco wood point, adjustable frog (mother-of-pearl). On five-stringed instruments: B0 (C1), E1, A1, D2, G2. Material: gut, copper, silver, aluminum, steel, steel-wound nylon. Strings: Length of the vibrating strings: 95-115 cm, 4 strings, tuned to intervals of a fourth: E1, A1, D2, G2.Belly with F-shaped sound holes, back, ribs 23 cm high (twice as high as the cello’s). Head: Scroll and pegbox with tuning mechanism.Contrabass instrument of the violin family (violin, viola, cello) Classification: Chordophone, necked lute, stringed instrument.
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