what's the loest note on a double bass? etc.

[hanx]

what's the loest note on a double bass? etc.
preferably in Hz or MIDI reference

and what is "doubl"-ed in a double bass?

hrmmm... a bass is an octave lower than a guitar, is a double bass an octave lower again?

[bassteban]

1. On mine, low E- the same as a typical 4-string BG(bass guitar).
2. Not sure.
3. No, don't think so.

Oh- and BTW, it's lowest, not *loest*. Welcome to TB.

[hanx]

yeah Lo_est was just a typo, sorry... i'm in manic intenet phase doing a few too many things at once.

really, it's same frequency as my bass guitar? that seems odd to me, the strings look a lot longer, are they a lot tighter? Or is there just a lot of body round them on a double bass that makes the scale length look longer?

[bassteban]

Sorry- if I don't get on someone 3 times a day I have to turn in my spelling Nazi card. Can't have that.
On topic- my DB is tuned exactly the same as my 4-string BGs. I use the same tuner. Can't comment on the physics.

[totallybacan]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Sorry- if I don't get on someone 3 times a day I have to turn in my spelling Nazi card. Can't have that.
On topic- my DB is tuned exactly the same as my 4-string BGs. I use the same tuner. Can't comment on the physics.

I read somewhere that the "double" came from doubling the cello an octave down *CORRECTION: IT IS NOT BECAUSE IT IS LOWER THAN CELLO, BUT BECAUSE IT IS THE NEXT LOWEST INSTRUMENT BELOW THE 'BASS VIOLA DA GAMBA', SO IT IS "BASS" BASS INSTRUMENT, OR "DOUBLE" BASS*, or from the fact that it was written an octave above sounding, hence contrabass, which I guess is the same. The strings def seem to be tighter, and thicker. I believe the 3/4 double bass scale is around 40", making it indeed longer than electric bass scale.


String Note Frequency
G 97.999 Hz
D 73.416 Hz
Aˌ 55 Hz
Eˌ 41.204 Hz

[zeytoun]

Yep, the strings are a lot longer on a double bass. You're typical bass guitar (long scale) has 34" inch strings, and double basses vary, but most are usually in the ballpark of 41-44".

String tension is considerably higher (usually around 250 pounds of tension for the 4 strings, about double that of a 34" bass guitar).

Longer strings, under higher tension, means more work to pluck a string, and more vibrational energy transferred to the larger body, which means louder notes. Which is why a double bass (unless something is wrong with it) is louder than an acoustic bass guitar.

The low E is 41Hz. Sometimes, a double bass will either have an extra low string, or an extension on their low string, to allow them to play even lower, usually a low C, or even a low B (31Hz).

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by zeytoun

Longer strings, under higher tension, means more work to pluck a string...

Tell it.

[JansenW]

On most 5 string DBs...

Note Hz
B0 31.54
E1 41.20
A1 55.00
D2 73.42
G2 98.00

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by zeytoun

Yep, the strings are a lot longer on a double bass. You're typical bass guitar (long scale) has 34" inch strings, and double basses vary, but most are usually in the ballpark of 41-44".

String tension is considerably higher (usually around 250 pounds of tension for the 4 strings, about double that of a 34" bass guitar).

Longer strings, under higher tension, means more work to pluck a string, and more vibrational energy transferred to the larger body, which means louder notes. Which is why a double bass (unless something is wrong with it) is louder than an acoustic bass guitar.

The low E is 41Hz. Sometimes, a double bass will either have an extra low string, or an extension on their low string, to allow them to play even lower, usually a low C, or even a low B (31Hz).

All present and correct !! I think the thing is that a Double bass note just feels a lot bassier and darker than any bass guitar and it has a weight and presence that can never be matched by BG.

On BG I usually avoid the G string as it sounds thin, twangy and guitar-like - whereas on Double Bass, the G string has the bassiness(!!??) required, yet speaks quickly enough to play fast lines; so ends up being favourite string!

They are like chalk and cheese despite being tuned to essentially the same notes.