THE DOUBLE BASS

INTRO

• Lowest instrument of string family
• Usually has 4 string, may have 5 or 6
• Many names
• Can play every type of music
• Modern addition to string family

HISTORY

• Originated in 15th centruy europe
• Usually had 3 strings
• Came from other low stringed isntruments
• Chunk had to be taken out for playing

CONSTRUCTION

• Made by hand
• Different woods make different sound
• Price is affected by wood
• Main parts of the bass
• Different sizes to accomadate all players

STRINGS

• Originally made out of gut
• Almost unplayable
• 20th century switched to steel
• Made more sound
• Better sound quality

PLAYING METHOD

• Played with a stool or standing
• Bass on left side
• Arco or pizzicato
• Different notes made with left hand fingers

BOWS

• 2 kinds of bows
• French and german bows
• Frogs are different
• One is like a hand shake
• Other is more like violin hold

ROSIN

• Made of a tree resin
• Pressed into a "cake"
• Allows bow to "grab" strings
• No sound without it

EXTENSIONS

• Added to bass for lower notes
• Usually on lowest string
• Extends above head
• Also a 5th string could be added
• Tuned to player's preference

SOUND

• Despite size, not that loud
• Yes loud, but not as expected
• Orchestras have lots of basses
• Jazz uses only 1 bass, 2 rarely

CONCLUSION

• Altogether great instrument
• Arguably most versatile
• Fun to play
• Many music styles fit it