Double Bass

Contents:

Important info:

The double bass is the fourth and final instrument and forms the bass in the string section. As in the cello the double bass’s range spans through three different clefs, these again are used purely to reduce the amount of ledger lines that would appear under the notes above the staves if left in bass clef.

It is important to know that when writing for the double bass the instrument actually sounds a octave lower than what is written on the music, this is the same for the tenor and treble clefs when being used on the double bass.

Although the tuning of the lowest double bass string only goes down to an E below the bass clef most double basses of today can in fact go as low as a C below the bass clef. This is due to an added device that is fitted on the head of the instrument allowing these lower notes to be possible.

Double-stopping can be very effective on the double bass but are quite risky and should possibly only be used in solo writing. Because of the pitch and think strings of the instrument double-stops any closer than a fifth can become muddy and thick sounding. It is also difficult to get double-stops sounding in tune when not using open strings because of the low pitch. Care is needed when writing these for double bass and experimentation maybe required. Back to top

#3: Double bass harmonic partials

It has already been explained on the ‘strings’ page how to achieve natural and artificial harmonics. Image #3 shows each partial for the four strings on the double bass. Back to top