Bowed instruments
Double bass
Double bass: The largest and lowest-pitched of the bowed strings; it is held upright, standing or seated on a high stool. The double bass, which came from Western music, entered the fasıl and radio ensembles of Turkish music in the 20th century, as well as urban and entertainment music, and took on the lowest voice of the ensemble.
In brief
- Family: Bowed string instrument; the largest and lowest of the bowed strings
- Origin: Europe; thought to derive from the violone, the large member of the viol family
- Body and materials: About 180 cm tall; spruce top, maple back, sloping shoulders
- Strings: Usually 4, tuned in fourths E–A–D–G; 5-string models also exist
- Tuning / range: Sounds an octave lower than written
- Playing: Held upright, standing or on a stool; bowed or plucked with the fingers
- Music: Orchestra, jazz, popular music; in Turkish music, fasıl and radio ensembles
Listen
History
The double bass, which came from Western music, entered the fasıl and radio ensembles of Turkish music in the 20th century, as well as urban and entertainment music, and took on the lowest voice of the ensemble.
Construction
It consists of a very large wooden body with sloping shoulders, two f-shaped sound holes, a long fretless fingerboard, metal tuning machines and an endpin that rests the body on the floor. It usually has four strings tuned in fourths.
How it is played
It is held upright, standing or seated on a stool; it can be bowed or plucked with the fingers (pizzicato). In Turkish music ensembles it is often plucked.
Its place in makam music
Although being fretless it could stop the commas, in the ensemble it usually supports fundamental degrees such as the karar and güçlü and the accents of the usul from the low register, adding depth to the ensemble.
Getting started: types, sizes, tuning
Start with this instrument
Masters on recordings
Performers who play this instrument on recordings of works in the score archive (MusicBrainz).
Frequently asked questions about the Double bass
What is the difference between the double bass and the cello?
The double bass is the largest of the bowed strings; it is played standing or on a high stool, its strings are tuned in fourths (E, A, D, G), and it sounds an octave lower than written. The cello is smaller, is played seated and is tuned in fifths. While the cello is well suited to playing melodies, the double bass forms the lowest foundation of the ensemble.
Can commas be stopped on the double bass?
Yes, since its fingerboard is fretless, the comma-inflected pitches of the makams can be stopped. But in an ensemble the double bass's job is mostly to give fundamental pitches such as the tonic and dominant and the accents of the usul from below, so fine comma differences are less audible in the low register. Still, a good player supports the ensemble's intonation by stopping each pitch in keeping with the makam.
Is the double bass hard to learn?
Because of its large body and thick strings, it requires physical strength and a wide finger stretch; in the first weeks your fingertips need to get used to it. On the other hand, learning basic accompaniment patterns is relatively quick. Since in Turkish music ensembles it is mostly played with the fingers (pizzicato), knowing the usul patterns well is as important as bowing technique.
Can I play the double bass on this site?
Yes. The “Play in the browser” button opens the virtual double bass; the sounds are double bass notes from the University of Iowa's freely usable instrument recordings. The pitches of the makam you choose play at their comma values; since very low notes may sound weak on a phone speaker, listening with headphones gives better results.