Parts of a Double Bass
The double bass spent the early part of its life trapped in redundancy, playing the same notes as the cello an octave lower. This practice was known as "doubling" and gave the double bass its name. In later jazz and big band compositions, the double bass became an integral part of the rhythm section. (See Reference 1.) While the double bass does not have a standard shape, all double basses have the same basic parts. (See References 1 & 2.)
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Strings
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A bass player makes music by causing the double bass's strings to vibrate, creating sound. The string vibrates at a different pitch depending on where the musician's fingers are placed on the fingerboard. (See Reference 1.) Strings may be gut or metal. Larry Bartley, a renowned British jazz musician, prefers gut strings to provide a "soft but secure harmonic 'cushion' for the soloists." Metal strings produce a much louder sound than gut strings, with less effort. (See Reference 3.) Most basses have four strings, but some have five. Unlike other Western stringed instruments, the double bass does not have a standard number of strings. (See Reference 4.)
Body
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The size of the double bass makes it a challenging instrument for young musicians to learn. The main body of a double bass has one of two basic shapes. It may be shaped more like a violin, with a curved back and higher shoulders, or more like a viola, with a flat back and shoulders that slope steeply down from the neck. (See Reference 2.) Two f-holes (so named because they are shaped like a cursive "f") carved in the front of the instrument amplify the sound. The strings pass across the bridge, which transmits their vibrations to the body of the instrument. The tailpiece anchors the strings to the instrument, with a tail spike attached to the bottom of the body for the musician to balance the instrument on the floor. (See Reference 1.)
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Neck
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The neck rises from the body of the double bass. A bass player places his fingers along the fingerboard, pressing the strings down against the neck to form different pitches. The strings are wound around tuning pegs at the top of the bass, and their length can be adjusted by turning the pegs up or down to help tune the instrument. The neck is finished with a scroll at the top. (See Reference 1.)
Bow
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While the strings can be plucked to release sound, a bow is often used, particularly in classical compositions. The bow contains horsehair stretched across the top, and is stroked across the strings horizontally. The tension of the bow may be adjusted. Friction is required to release sound from the strings, so bass players use rosin to keep the horsehair from becoming too smooth with repeated use. (See Reference 1.)
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References
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