Double bass

The article traces the double bass to Renaissance bass instruments described as the contrabass violone. It presents its development as extending from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, with a form close to today's emerging in the later eighteenth century. The instrument's history includes several regional designs rather than one simple line of descent.

The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched standard orchestral string instrument, with a deep, full sound. It resembles a greatly enlarged violin, often with sloping shoulders and geared tuning machines. The article gives approximate dimensions of 1.80 m high and 60 cm wide; actual sizes vary. It is played standing or seated on a tall stool.

Double basses commonly have four or five strings. Both setups have different uses; four strings are not restricted to solo work, nor five to orchestras. Unlike the violin, viola and cello, whose standard strings are tuned in fifths, a standard four-string double bass is tuned in fourths: E–A–D–G.

Its low register gives the double bass a dark, substantial sound. It can add depth and richness to an ensemble, making it an important orchestral voice. In jazz and blues especially, players use pizzicato—plucking the string with a finger—to produce a wide range of colours.

The double bass uses two common bow styles: German and French. The German bow is held with an underhand grip, while the French bow uses an overhand grip.

The double bass is an octave-transposing instrument: it sounds one octave lower than written. Music is commonly written in bass clef, with F on the fourth line; high passages may use treble clef.

The double bass can produce many of the colours available to other bowed strings. Its long, thick strings also make pizzicato especially prominent. In the orchestra it often supplies the lowest harmonic line, sometimes doubling the cello an octave below.

The article highlights works by Giovanni Bottesini, including concertos in B minor and F-sharp minor. It also lists Arcady Dubensky's Fugue for eight double basses, Paul Hindemith's Sonata for double bass and piano (1949), Edgard Varèse's Octandre and Johann Baptist Vanhal's double bass concerto. These include both solo repertoire and ensemble works featuring the instrument.

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher