The History of the Upright Bass

The first recorded mention of the upright bass dates back to the late 15th century. Since that time, the instrument has been made with anywhere from three to six strings, both with and without frets, and it has been played in a vast array of tunings.

History

The first known illustration of the early upright bass was made in 1516, but a similar instrument was described in writings by Prospero 23 years earlier. These early designs were typically tuned in combinations of thirds and fourths. They had frets placed at every semitone.

Identification

The earliest upright basses typically used five or six strings. By the 17th century--a time when numerous solo pieces for the upright bass were composed--five-string basses had become the standard in influential regions such as Austria and Germany.

Time Frame

In the 18th century, powerful three-stringed basses with no frets on the neck were more popular than fretted five- and six-string basses. The modern four-string fretless model would not become the norm until the 1920s.

Considerations

Modern upright basses are typically made with spruce tops and maple ribs, necks and backs. Wood, ash and poplar are also used in making ribs, backs and some necks in 2010.

References

• Early Bass: History of the Double Bass
• Double Bass Workshop: Bass Construction