an elementary double bass question

[J-B'ass]

okay im probably the only one who doesn't know this, but im kind of confused about double bass size and tuning. Is it true that a 'jazz' double bass is tuned the same as a bass guitar, and is the same pitch, and is it the size of an orchestral double bass, which is a lower pitch and is tune in fifths? I'v somehow got the idea that that's how it is, but im not sure?

[txstatebass]

It's really a case of apples and apples. The standard tuning of any double bass will be the same as that of a bass guitar. 5th's tuning is not as normal as you may have been led to believe. It did have it's place in history, along with Viennese tuning, and there are still many great players that use it on both the jazz and classical side of the house to some degree of success. However, the fourths tuning (EADG) is pretty well the industry standard. IMHO it seems that 3/4's or 7/8's is widely used as a standard size of the instrument. Perhaps Ken Smith will weigh in a bit on this conversation, as he has a more historical perspective and some serious antiques in his arsenal. Hope this helped to clear things up!

[J-B'ass]

okay, i see, so all sizes are tuned the samed..but does this mean if all double basses are tuned the same as a bass, and a cello reaches the D below the low E on a (4 string) bass, do cellos have a lower range than double basses?

[lfh]

The lowest note on a cello is C. This C corresponds to the C on the A-string (2:nd position) of the DB. Note that the actual DB pitch is one octave lower than notated (8:va bassa).

[KSB - Ken Smith]

The Regular Double Bass and BG is tunes the same, bot in 4ths and from low E to G.

Exceptions are mulit-stringed BGs, 5-string DBs and those tuned in 5ths. Low C-extensions are tuned in forths position-wise except for the extension which is above the Nut. I even have orders for Smith Basses now with 5ths tunings.. Go figure..

Both the DB and BG read transposing, sounding an octave lower than the written note. The exception is the Tuba which plays and reads at pitch.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Both the DB and BG read transposing, sounding an octave lower than the written note. The exception is the Tuba which plays and reads at pitch...

Exception to what? Most instruments play and read at pitch. The tuba is, after all, not a bass (as in BG or DB). I can only guess that you mean that the tuba is, in some sense, the exception among bass-anchoring instruments.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by drurb

Exception to what? Most instruments play and read at pitch. The tuba is, after all, not a bass (as in BG or DB). I can only guess that you mean that the tuba is, in some sense, the exception among bass-anchoring instruments.

The Bass is a transposing instrument. Sometimes when reading Tuba music on a job, you are sounding an octave lower..

[Don C]

Yes, in order to play at the right pitch if you are reading Tuba music, a bassist must read it an octave higher.

[moopants]

Yeah... being in a concert band, you get used to reading tuba music pretty quick.

[drurb]

Understood. So, being nit-picky, the tuba differs from the BG and DB (which, of course, I was well aware are transposing instruments) but is not an "exception" within a class. (Just striving for clarity, not being critical ).