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Double Bass

Te double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument.

How does it work?

To play it, the musician stands up or sits on a high stool, and puts the instrument like the cello, vertically. Besides, the double bass shape is slightly different, with a flat back and different tuning.

A bit of history...

The early basses varied in the number of strings, three to six, and also the shape.

Curiously, during the colonial period, it also got a different name from that we know today, from portuguese and Brazilian: it was called "big rabecão".

Baroque double bass built by Gottfried Tielke, Königsberg 1662.

Nowadays, the double bass ma vary the design, being bigger or smaller, depending on the player preference and style to play. Normally, the ones used in the orchestra are bigger than the ones used in solo plays, and have four strings.

 

Watch the video and learn more about the double bass.