The Double Bass – Then and Now

In the modern orchestra, there are a number of stringed instruments that cover a variety of sounds. Highs and lows, the entire spectrum of sound audible to the human can be accessed with stringed instruments. At the lowest end of the spectrum, the double bass, or upright bass, can access the lowest sounds discernible by the human ear. This acoustic instrument was invented with its cousins, like the violin, in 15th century Europe. Since then, it has enjoyed a great deal of usage in many orchestral works. The bass is played by a bassist using a bow, not unlike a violin. The shear size of the instrument means that is has to be standing on the ground while being played.

In orchestral play, the double bass does not have enough volume, and as such it requires six to eight bassists playing in unison in order to form the integral part of the musical piece. In the 18th and 19th centuries the bass rose as not only a solo instrument, but also an integral part of an orchestra for the formation of deep bass tones. In the 19th century, especially, there are a number of pieces that are still used today in studies of the double bass and its play. Through the 20th century to the present, the double bass had started to enjoy a good amount of solo work composed and orchestral parts dictate.

In addition to its tradition use, around the year 1890, a troupe of jazz artists had adopted the bass as an instrument, In modern music, those who are under the label of bluegrass musician have adopted the double bass for the low sounds it provides. In bluegrass, the instrument is always plucked as opposed to played with the bow. In jazz and bluegrass, slap playing is another style of play that is popular, although it is very much the case that slap playing is a style of play that is considered by few to be a bit of a crutch in the way of play that it employs.

In today's time, the bass instrument is seeing much in the way of play, especially in rockabilly and psychobilly genres of music. It is frequently played with some sort of audio capture, and amplification device so that the band need only utilize a single double bass. In both genres, the strings are plucked as opposed to being played with a bow. Across a number of genres: blues, jazz, swing, polka and other such genres, the double bass enjoys a great deal of usage.

The double bass is a stringed instrument that is capable of acoustically providing sounds in the lower end of the spectrum. The double bass is a popular stand up instrument that provides a well loved sound. The double bass sees a great deal of use in a variety of different styles and genres of music, which makes it a permanent fixture in the world of music. As other instruments grow and change with time, the stand up bass is still a traditional fixture that seems to remain perfect as time shows no change is necessary to improve its play.

New Ergo Electric Upright Bass 6 Six String Henna Art

New Ergo Electric Upright Bass 6 Six String Henna Art

US $850.00
Sale
Upright bass stand NEW Priced to MOVE

Upright bass stand NEW Priced to MOVE

US $19.99
Sale
UPRIGHT Double Bass adjustable stand sturdy NEW

UPRIGHT Double Bass adjustable stand sturdy NEW

US $49.00
Sale
Bass Max Upright Double Bass Pickup NEW KK Sound

Bass Max Upright Double Bass Pickup NEW KK Sound

US $96.00
Sale
UPRIGHT Bass Bow CASE hardshell 1 or 2 bows NEW

UPRIGHT Bass Bow CASE hardshell 1 or 2 bows NEW

US $59.00
Sale
NEW STAGG EDB 3 4 SIZE UPRIGHT ELECTRIC DOUBLE BASS

NEW STAGG EDB 3 4 SIZE UPRIGHT ELECTRIC DOUBLE BASS

US $499.95
Sale
NEW PRO SYNTHETIC GUT Upright BASS Weedwacker STRINGS

NEW PRO SYNTHETIC GUT Upright BASS Weedwacker STRINGS

US $34.88
Sale
Stagg upright electric double bass w carry bag NEW

Stagg upright electric double bass w carry bag NEW

US $535.00
Sale
NEW 5 STRING ELECTRIC UPRIGHT BASS

NEW 5 STRING ELECTRIC UPRIGHT BASS

US $265.00
Sale
KK Bass Max Upright Double Bass Pickup NEW w warranty

KK Bass Max Upright Double Bass Pickup NEW w warranty

US $96.00
Sale
Endpin Kay or Engelhardt Upright DOUBLE BASS New OEM

Endpin Kay or Engelhardt Upright DOUBLE BASS New OEM

US $33.00
Sale
NEW Wood REALIST David Gage Pickup Upright Double Bass

NEW Wood REALIST David Gage Pickup Upright Double Bass

US $196.00
Sale
Folding STAND for UPRIGHT BASS New in box sturdy

Folding STAND for UPRIGHT BASS New in box sturdy

US $49.00
Sale
3 4 folding electric upright bass hand carve walnut new

3 4 folding electric upright bass hand carve walnut new

US $399.90
Sale
NEW BIG BLACK MONSTER ACOUSTIC UPRIGHT BASS 3 4 SIZE

NEW BIG BLACK MONSTER ACOUSTIC UPRIGHT BASS 3 4 SIZE

US $359.00
Sale

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-11 05:01:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • saxThe Decline and Potential Rise of the Bass Saxophone Bass instruments are typically the largest of instruments, and the bass saxophone is not exception. This sometimes forgotten instrument can be awkward to move about, and it suffers from little love in the music department in terms of songs and pieces written for the instrument. It is frequently replaced by......
  • guitarLearn to Play Bass Guitar For someone starting out with a first instrument, a bass guitar is an excellent choice. The bass guitar is probably the easiest stringed instrument to learn to play, far easier than either an acoustic or electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, or a violin, for instance. And a stringed instrument......
  • playingguitarPlaying Bass Guitar in a Band People choose one instrument over another, like a bass guitar over a regular guitar, for a variety of different reasons. What makes someone choose a tuba over a flute or drums over a glockenspiel is mostly just the person's preference.  People choose what they like to listen to, what they......
  • basstabIntroduction to Bass Guitar Tablature A guitar tab, or guitar tablature is a system of letters, symbols, notations and other visual representations that dictate how music should be played, rather than following traditional musical notation. Guitar tablature gives directions to the bass player or guitar player regarding how they should play a musical piece. What......
  • guitar1Review of Bass Guitars In regards to instruments, the bass guitar is the new kid on the block as it hasn't even celebrated its 100 year mark yet. An interesting fact is that although it is called a bass guitar it is not even derived from the guitar. Acoustic guitars brought forth the electric......
Online Stores

The Decline and Potential Rise of the Bass Saxophone

saxBass instruments are typically the largest of instruments, and the bass saxophone is not exception. This sometimes forgotten instrument can be awkward to move about, and it suffers from little love in the music department in terms of songs and pieces written for the instrument. It is frequently replaced by other bass instruments, with a sharper decline as the electric bass guitar hit the scene. It is just the case that there is little need for the instrument in modern music. It does have a chance that newer musicians will see it as a means of reconnecting with music of the past.

The saxophone is a traditional jazz instrument. Other genres of music do not favor the instrument, instead relying upon stringed instruments. These more well known instruments are those that are favored in part because of the familiarity of them to the younger music scene. Many older works do have parts written for the bass saxophone, but these parts are usually played by other more accessible bass instruments because of the lack of availability of the bass saxophone and its musicians.

Bass guitarists and even tuba players are more readily available. The instruments are also more affordable because of their availability. It is because of the cost and availability that younger musicians are not picking up the bass saxophone. This is why there is little desire to try the instrument and consider it for using through out the young musicians career.

Of course, this does not mean that the bass saxophone is without a place in the music scene. Changes are always occurring which could sky rocket the instrument into the limelight and interest will grow significantly.

The bass saxophone may be an instrument that is inherently difficult and awkward to carry around, and there may not necessarily be a lot of music out there that is written specifically for playing by the saxophone, but all is not lost for this intriguing instrument. If more people were to begin to play the saxophone, there would probably be a much greater call for written music for it, and it would probably be included more often in many bands. The saxophone is one of the most expensive instruments, which is probably one of the largest contributing factors to why few schools are incorporating it into their marching bands. This may also be why so many younger musicians are choosing the saxophone as their instrument of choice, in addition to the fact that the instrument is bulky and can be difficult to get used to playing. Because the instrument is so large, it is demanding that a musician be strong enough not only to carry it, but also strong enough to put enough air into it to generate the right kinds of sounds.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-27 13:47:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • playingguitarPlaying Bass Guitar in a Band People choose one instrument over another, like a bass guitar over a regular guitar, for a variety of different reasons. What makes someone choose a tuba over a flute or drums over a glockenspiel is mostly just the person's preference.  People choose what they like to listen to, what they......
  • bassguitarThe History of the Bass Guitar The electric bass guitar is a staple of the music scene today. It provides the bass spectrum of sound to the likes of rock, jazz, metal, blues and numerous other musical acts. The bass may provide one part of the larger melody, or be featured as the primary instrument. Over......
  • blog traffic exchange Robert Trujillo: Bassist for Metallica Metallica was up to the task of performing at Ozzfest this year, for they commanded the attention of the massive stadium. Robert Trujillo was rocking for over two hours with drummer Lars Ulrich, singer/guitarist James Hetfield and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, all of whom brought forth a power that made......
  • guitar1Review of Bass Guitars In regards to instruments, the bass guitar is the new kid on the block as it hasn't even celebrated its 100 year mark yet. An interesting fact is that although it is called a bass guitar it is not even derived from the guitar. Acoustic guitars brought forth the electric......
  • guitarLearn to Play Bass Guitar For someone starting out with a first instrument, a bass guitar is an excellent choice. The bass guitar is probably the easiest stringed instrument to learn to play, far easier than either an acoustic or electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, or a violin, for instance. And a stringed instrument......
Online Stores
acoustic bass bass clarinet bass clarinets bass drum bass drums bass family Bass Guitar bass guitars bass instruments bass part bass store bridge one clarinet family concert bass counterpoint definite pitch different instruments Double Bass eb series electric bass electric bass guitar electric stringed instruments fender bass fender guitar fret board genres of music indefinite pitch kick drum launch leo fender lionel hampton low frequency magnetic coils modern music monk montgomery musical acts musical instrument musical instruments music of today music scene orchestras percussion instruments stand up stringed instrument stringed instruments