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Double Bass Why Do They Call It Double Bass?

#22
Ken I told you to turn off that camera you had installed in my office.

Someone actually suggested to me yesterday that I build a double bass that is shaped like a Fender, butwith double bass dimensions !

uh, oooo kkkkk i says,

Slabavarious ? You are killing me Herr Professori Smith
 
#23
I showed up at a gig back in February and the band leader says "is that a Double Bass ? " and I says "Yep." and he says" Man, that's good, I thought you were going to bring one of those guitars with two necks."

True story I swear.
 
#26
"This is also why the Bass is a Transposing instrument, sounding an octave lower than we read the notes...Now.. how many of you knew that one? huh?"

I did! ... but that's because I'm a smarty-pants ... or a smart-ass ... same thing really. ;-)

So, let me build on the initial question: is the term "bass violin" synonymous with "double bass" (which is synonymous with "upright bass")?

:hiding:
 
#27
KSB - Ken Smith said:
This is the main reason WHY it was called the "Double Bass" , BECAUSE.....it 'Doubled' the BASS Part !!!!!!!!! AND..... By the way.... SOUNDED.. an octave lower as well..
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but this is just wrong. Yes, I know that db parts were frequently just (simplified) duplications of the cello parts (I've played many many of them), but that does not mean that the bass is called the bass because it "doubled" the cello. Don't make me go to the library and give citation dates from the OED.

-dh
 
#28
"Bass Violin I believe is politically incorrect. It is not and never was tuned like a Violin."

Ah, so "bass violin" is a misnomer? I learned something new today, and ibefore 11:00 a.m. ... impressive!

"We accept Bass Violin as a nick name but all knowledgeable people or at least most of them call it a Double Bass when using more than just 'Bass' to describe it."

I never liked refering to it as "Double Bass", mostly due to the fact that I -- not unlike many here apparently -- don't really know why it is called "Double Bass".

I always liked "Contrabass" though ... has a subversive ring to it, eh. "-)

Thanks for the book recommendations ... I'll add them to my list.

Now back to work!
 
#33
goodbass said:
baB(as in Bob the Builder). The last capitol B is a German double s.
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Wil Davis said:
I don't think it's a capital "B"…
Click to expand...

If my high school Deutsch serves me correctly, the character ß is called a 'eszet' (pronounced est-zet) and it is a lower case double s. So the 'baß' part of Kontrabaß is pronounced Bass as in ale or fish, not 'base' as in double bass.
Any German speakers here want to give us the definitive answer? :)
 
#34
KRFC said:
If my high school Deutsch serves me correctly, the character ß is called a 'eszet' (pronounced est-zet) and it is a lower case double s. So the 'baß' part of Kontrabaß is pronounced Bass as in ale or fish, not 'base' as in double bass.
Any German speakers here want to give us the definitive answer? :)
Click to expand...

Hey... I'm still waiting on a definitive answer to the initial question!

"-P
 
#36
KRFC said:
If my high school Deutsch serves me correctly, the character ß is called a 'eszet' (pronounced est-zet) and it is a lower case double s. So the 'baß' part of Kontrabaß is pronounced Bass as in ale or fish, not 'base' as in double bass.
Any German speakers here want to give us the definitive answer? :)
Click to expand...

Sorry, I didn't know I could make one of those on the computer. :hmm:
 
#37
Patrick Cowan said:
Not that this settles it, but at least one member of the literati seems to agree.

From the Invalid Link Removed:
double bass
ETYMOLOGY: double, tuned an octave lower than (from the fact that a string or pipe that is twice the length of another gies a pitch an octave lower) + bass.

I assume "gies" is gives. I suppose it could be argued that you can't trust a dictionary with spelling errors...
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Doesn't the gamba family also refer to size (and subsequent octaves) as a measure of feet. 8', 16' etc...
 
#40
KRFC said:
If my high school Deutsch serves me correctly, the character ß is called a 'eszet' (pronounced est-zet) and it is a lower case double s. So the 'baß' part of Kontrabaß is pronounced Bass as in ale or fish, not 'base' as in double bass.
Any German speakers here want to give us the definitive answer? :)
Click to expand...

The "ß",usually written as "SS" when the German character set is not available, is is a much harder sound than how one would pronounce "ss" in English. It's sort of a not-so-delicate combination of a t,s and z.

The closest way to write the pronunciation phonetically would probably by KON-TRA-BOTSZ, with the 2nd "O" being somewhere in the middle between a short "o" and a long "a".

Although those more familiar with the southern Germany and especially Austrian dialects may be accustomed to softer consonants throughout the language.


Wow, something I learned in college just allowed me to contribute to an intelligent discussion. I should call my mom.

As for me, I have decided to break new ground. Hence forth, I will refer to my instrument as the "4-stringed Ultramegabox." so as to not be in any confused with Mr. Paul's "5-stringed Superultramegabox."

I was first considering "Megaultrabox," but that sounds too trendy. I need something that will stand the test of time.
 

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