Forms of the double bass date from
the late 15th or early 16th century
and were in common use by the 18th century. Ludwig van Beethoven and later composers gave the bass increased importance in the symphony orchestra.
When did the double bass join the orchestra?
It was not until
around 1700
that the double-bass was accepted into the opera orchestra. The men responsible for this were the Neapolitan Giuseppe Aldovrandini (1673–1707) and Marin Marais (1656–1728).
What is the history of the double bass?
Origins and history
The double bass is generally regarded as the only modern descendant of the viola da gamba family of instruments, a family which
originated in Europe in the 15th century
, and as such it can be described as a “bass viol.”
When was the bass string instrument invented?
The string bass or double bass has its roots in
the 1500s
, when it was developed in Italy’s Brescia and Cremona regions to complete the lowest part of the register in the violin family, just below that of the cello.
How was the double bass used in the orchestra?
The double bass is the
biggest string instrument in the orchestra
. It emits low and muted tones, sometimes rhythmic, sometimes long, but almost always incredibly powerful. The double bass part often forms a stable foundation over which the rest of the orchestra’s notes can resound.
Is double bass in an orchestra?
The double bass is
the largest string instrument in the orchestra
and with its warm, deep tones it is often thought of as the supporting the rest of the orchestra.
Who first played double bass drums?
The first person to use and popularize the double bass drum setup was
jazz drummer Louie Bellson
, who came up with the idea when he was still in high school.
When was the double bass drum pedal invented?
The first double bass drum pedal was actually invented by Sleishman in
1968
, but it only became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Far more drummers own double bass drum pedals, including myself and nearly all the drummers I know.
When was the bass violin invented?
The bass violin was developed in Italy in
the first half of the sixteenth century
to play in consort with the violin and viola. The first builder was possibly Andrea Amati, as early as 1538. The first specific reference to the instrument was probably made by Jambe de Fer in his treatise Epitome Musical (1556).
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
.
What was the first bass?
The first known electric bass guitar was
manufactured in the 1930s
by Seattle-based inventor and musician Paul Tutmarc, but it wasn’t very successful. Leo Fender developed the Precision Bass, which made its debut in 1951. Minor modifications were made in the mid-50s.
Why is bass called bass?
Bass (/bæs/) is a name shared by many species of fish. 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’
.
Why is it called double bass?
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
. … It is a hybrid instrument influenced by the gamba and the violin family.
When was the electric upright bass invented?
The first production electric upright basses were developed independently in
the mid-1930s
by Regal, Vega and Rickenbacker.
What is the difference between a bass and a double bass?
The difference between a bass guitar and a double bass is that
the bass guitar is smaller, it’s held perpendicular to the player’s body
, it’s often amplified via a bass amplifier, and it’s played with fingers or a pick. Double basses are larger, they’re stood upright, and they can be played with a bow.
What is a bass violin called?
A bass violin, also known as
a violone
, is a large, stringed instrument played with a bow. This instrument was the predecessor of the modern-day cello. Instrument makers designed bass violins as part of the larger viola da braccio family.
Who invented the bass?
1. With early versions appearing in the 1930s, the modern bass guitar was invented by
Leo Fender
and marketed beginning in 1951 as a cheaper, more portable, and louder alternative for double bassists playing in dance bands (Jamerson). 2.
Did John Bonham use a double bass pedal?
Many less capable drummers cheat with double bass pedals. Bonham accomplished his downbeats with the Ludwig Speed King pedal. … Unlike some contemporary drummers,
Bonham did not use a double bass drum kit
.
How many basses are in an orchestra?
There are are usually
6 – 8 basses
in an orchestra.
Why is the double bass important?
The double bass
provides a unique sound in classical music
. … The instrument can play much lower than anyone can sing, and it provides the foundation for the orchestra’s sound. In an orchestra, basses are almost always way over on the right side of the stage. Bassists play sitting on a very tall stool or standing up.
Who is the fastest double bass drummer?
Tim Waterson
is a Canadian drummer who holds the world record for the fastest number of double strokes on a bass drum using a double pedal, with a record of 1,407 in one minute (January 22, 2002).
Who is the most famous bass drum player?
- 1 – John Bonham. Unsurprisingly, John Bonham is number 1 on most lists of drummers.
- 2 – Neil Peart. …
- 3 – Stewart Copeland. …
- 4 – Buddy Rich. …
- 5 – Keith Moon. …
- 6 – Dave Grohl. …
- 7 – Ramon “Tiki” Fulwood. …
- 8 – Ginger Baker. …
What was the first bass drum pedal?
Probably the most overlooked invention in the history of drum manufacturing was the
DUBL-PEDL
from the DUBL-PEDL Company, Madison, Wisconsin. Easily 20 years ahead of its time, the DUBL-PEDL was the first double pedal/single bass drum design.
When was the kick pedal invented?
The original Ludwig pedal was patented in
1909
. Another early bass drum pedal.
Why is violin the hardest instrument?
The violin is one of the hardest instruments to play. Since it
lacks frets to space the strings
, it’s easy to play the wrong notes and difficult to get the notes dead on. It is also difficult to learn how to move the bow with one hand and press the strings correctly with the other hand.
What is the second largest instrument in the string family?
The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the
double bass
, sometimes called the contrabass.
Who plays the double bass?
A person who plays this instrument is called a “
bassist
“, “double bassist”, “double bass player”, “contrabassist”, “contrabass player” or “bass player”.
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).
Why does bass only have 4 strings?
The bass guitar itself is an even less complicated instrument; it has frets to aid in finding the correct pitch, it has only four strings and they are large and hard to miss. Thus we can say that the bass guitar has four strings
because it’s one for each brain cell of the bass player.
What is the difference between first and second violins in an orchestra?
The simplest answer is to say that usually the
second violins play a supportive role harmonically and rhythmically to the first violins
which often play the melody and the highest line of the string section. …
What is the sticky substance that string players rub onto their bow?
Rosin
is extensively used for its friction-increasing capacity in several fields: Players of bowed string instruments rub cakes or blocks of rosin on their bow hair so it can grip the strings and make them “speak”, or vibrate clearly.
Who invented bass slapping?
Larry Graham
is generally credited as inventing slap bass guitar. Graham has said that he was simply trying to create a drum-like sound to flesh out the rhythm in the then drummerless Family Stone.
How are double bass made?
How it is made. The double bass is
usually made from wood
. Double basses have a hollow wooden body which helps to amplify the sounds of the instrument . A wooden neck is attached to the body, and a flat wooded fingerboard is glued onto the neck.
When did bass music start?
In
the 1930s
, musician and inventor Paul Tutmarc of Seattle, Washington, developed the first electric bass guitar in its modern form, a fretted instrument designed to be played horizontally.
Who is the best bass guitarist of all time?
- Paul McCartney.
- Geddy Lee. …
- Les Claypool. …
- John Paul Jones. …
- Jaco Pastorius. …
- Jack Bruce. …
- Cliff Burton. …
- Victor Wooten. Last weekend we asked our readers to pick the top 10 bass players of all time. …
When did the bass guitar became popular?
The
late 1950s and 1960s
become the most significant eras for the bass guitar as the instrument sweeps into popular culture and transforms the sound and look of modern music.
