How is the double bass played in jazz?

In jazz, since the 1950s, the double bass is usually played with amplification and it is mostly played with the fingers, pizzicato style, except during some solos, where players may use the bow. The pizzicato style varies between different players and genres.

What are the two ways in which the double bass are played?

The double bass is played with a bow (arco), or by plucking the strings (pizzicato), or via a variety of extended techniques. In orchestral repertoire and tango music, both arco and pizzicato are employed.

What is the name of the plucking technique used on the double bass?

pizzicato
pizzicato. Pizzicato means to pluck the strings with your fingers, as opposed to using the bow. The technique varies between different musical genres. To play a classical pizz, grab the string with your index finger and pull the string upwards, away from the fingerboard.

How would you describe the sound of a double bass?

Heavy, weighty, dark, weightless, wafting, somber, earthy, resonant, rasping, broad, hollow, dull, mighty, menacing, violent, mellow, sustaining, aspirate.

What is a stand up bass called?

Jazz musicians often call it the acoustic bass to distinguish it from electric bass guitars. Especially when used in folk and bluegrass music, the instrument can also be referred to as an upright bass, standup bass, bass fiddle, bass violin, doghouse bass, dog-house, bull fiddle, hoss bass, or bunkhouse bass.

Why is it called double bass?

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. 3. This hefty instrument has several nicknames including contrabass, string bass, bass, bass viol, bass fiddle, or bull fiddle.

What is another name for double bass?

double bass, also called contrabass, string bass, bass, bass viol, bass fiddle, or bull fiddle, French contrebasse, German Kontrabass, stringed musical instrument, the lowest-pitched member of the violin family, sounding an octave lower than the cello.

What instrumental section does double bass belongs?

string section
Together with violins, violas and cellos, the double bass is part of the string section and supports the orchestra with its warm, deep tone – but is also a popular instrument in jazz, blues, rock and roll, country, bluegrass, tango and folk music. What instruments make up an orchestra?

What is arco pizzicato?

Pizzicato is a playing technique for bowed string instruments which produces a short and percussive sound. When played, the notes should be plucked with fingers instead of bowed. Arco indicates the end of Pizzicato.

What is Bartok pizz?

Snap pizzicato, sometimes referred to by the misnomer of “Bartok” pizzicato, refers to plucking the string with such force that it snaps back, striking the fingerboard upon rebound.

What is the pitch of double bass?

Modern double basses are usually tuned (low to high) E-A-D-G. The lowest string is tuned to E (the same pitch as the lowest E on a modern piano, approx 41 Hz), nearly 3 octaves below middle C ); and the highest string is tuned to G, an octave and a fourth below middle C (approx 98 Hz).

What is the difference between contrabass and double bass?

What is the highest note on a double bass?

G4
The highest note for the bass guitar or double bass is typically considered G4 at 392 Hz. The double bass is the only string instrument in the standard symphony orchestra that is tuned to perfect fourths instead of perfect fifths.

What is the classification of double bass?

Bass
String instrumentBowed string instrumentPizzicatoViolin family
Double bass/Instrument family

How many strings does double bass have?

four
A double bass is usually strung with four heavy strings pitched E1–A1–D–G; a fifth string is occasionally added—in jazz band basses, at the top of the register to allow high notes to be played more easily; in symphony orchestra basses, below the E string, tuned to C.

What does Sul Tasto mean in music?

Definition of sul tasto : with the bow kept over the fingerboard so as to produce a soft thin tone —used as a direction in music for a stringed instrument.

How do you tremolo upright bass?

Two notes are played as a tremolo on the same string as follows: the finger in the lower position fingers the string and keeps it pressed down while the other finger quickly and repeatedly stops and releases a higher note.

How do you do vibrato bass?

In most cases, however, a forearm vibrato is the appropriate motion. We produce this basic vibrato motion by turning our left forearm “in and out” at the elbow using our biceps muscle (i.e. you will pronate and supinate your left forearm). We already make this motion away from the bass every time we turn a doorknob.

What’s the highest note on the double bass?

What key is contrabass in?

Bb
Contrabass Clarinets. Description: The contrabass clarinet is pitched in the key of Bb, and parts for it are universally written transposed in treble clef, as if it were a Bb soprano clarinet. Thus, the pitch played will sound two octaves and one whole step lower than written.

Why is a double bass called that?

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.

What key is a double bass written in?

What Is The Pitch Of Double Bass? A modern double bass is usually tuned (low to high) E-A-D-G. In tuning the lowest string, the same pitch as the lowest E on a modern piano is used, and the highest string is tuned to G, an octave and a fourth below middle C (approx 98 Hz).