Double Bass Why Do They Call It Double Bass?

[Just some guy]

I'd like to recomend a book for all of those interested in the above debates. Paul Brun, I feel, exausts these issues in his book "A New History of the Double Bass." The book is a little slow going but it might give you a more through examination of the above topics than we could possibly provide here.

 

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

TOLOLOCHE!!!

 

[fretlessman71]

Howabout this, then: Double Bass is named for the same reason Double Bassoon is named. Both instruments sound exactly one octave lower than they are READ. Using this idea, you could (correctly?) use the term "Electric Double Bass Guitar". But Bass Guitar works well enough that we all know what we mean when we say it.

Now, I have a better one for you: Who started calling a string bass a Doghouse, and why?

 

[Eoin]

Yeah, I had always heard it was so-called because of the transposition.

That wouldn't apply to a bass guitar though, since there is no transposition there.

 

[fretlessman71]

Don't think of it as a transposition - think of it as the pitch of the note as read. The open G string is read as the top space on the staff on both double bass and bass guitar, and the resulting pitch is exactly one octave lower than the same note as read while playing a piano (or any other concert pitch instrument).

But I'll ask again: Why is it sometimes called a doghouse?

 

[Derek the Cello]

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

There are bass violins, but the opposite of what you were thinking. They're lower-voiced violins (fit under chin, etc). However, I believe bass violas are way more popular, most are set to play cello range.

I've discussed the topic of the name (double bass) with several bass playing friends (all compose as well), who are convinced it's a question of voicing and not size. I don't believe I've ever heard of cellos being referred to as bass, but in terms of voicing they are. Same thing as Conor explained. And just because the transposition is an octave, doesn't mean it's not a transposition.

 

[Shaun Kelley]

I think it is more accurate to say that the "double" in "double bass"is an English rendering of the Italian "contra". The double bass, like the contrabassoon is a transposing instrument, whose pitches sound an octave lower than written (in solo tuning the interval is a minor7th). Beethoven ended the pre-19th-century practice of basses in the orchestra merely playing the cello part, an octave below (technically not a doubling).

 

[Silversorcerer]

Here is a link to a double bass "viol" or violone. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Since this instrument is about the same size and shape of a 3/4 double bass, one can see the similarities and differences. These were tuned in 4ths with an 3rd thrown in for fun sort of like guitars and most had 5 or 6 strings. The tuning went to as far down as D or C. Before the time of Beethoven, an English fellow (Gibbs or Gibbons?) referred to an instrument called "the great dooble bass viol", so the double bass distinction predates the classical era. It is not known when the term became common. It appears sporadically throughout the history of the gamba family. Modern double basses are still called bass viols by some. It is not such a misnomer as it is a general category rather than a specific instrument. In Baroque music the part played by the double bass was referred to as the continuo.

 

[Ike Harris]

Why is it sometimes called a doghouse?

Because that's where I'll be if I buy another one.

 

[Fast n Funky 11]

As I understand it,
way way back in the day the cello was called the bass, since the double bass is twice as large or low or whatever, it was called the double bass.
This is the basic definition that my high school director of music gave me once.

 

[swan6797]

There is so much wrong information here. A bunch of it touches on some good points, but for a more complete explanation i would suggest to books to look into the first being "A New History of the Double Bass" by Paul Brun and the other being "The Baroque double Bass Violone" by Alfred Planyavsky and translated by James Barket. The later of these two shows how the bass evolved in a way from the violone. the other gives more of an explanation of the double bass birth from the violin family. Great books for any serious double bassist interested in performance practice.

 

[mandocaster]

Refried beans aren't really refried - the spanish word is refritos - meaning the beans are especially completely fried

I figure it is the same with double bass - it's especially bassy.

I got my information from a Taco Bell hot sauce packet.

What do I win?

 

[drurb]

Wait around long enough and everything here on TB will be re-visited, sometimes as if it is anew! There are many, many threads and posts on just this topic. The history hasn't changed much since last year. I agree with swan6797 that consultation of a number of authoritative texts would seem a short route to some very good information.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Because the 'single' Bass is the Cello, now called the Violincello. Therefore the BIG Bass is called the Double Bass. Also, in most of the old music Beethoven and before, the orchestrated parts are for Cello-Bass with most of it in unison but the Bass being a transposing instrument ( I bet most of you did not know this) sounds an octave lower then written. The Tuba, Bassoon and Piano read and sound Bass notes at pitch.

Is there a new question to this old worn out thread?

 

[ZachDad]

Refried beans aren't really refried - the spanish word is refritos - meaning the beans are especially completely fried

I figure it is the same with double bass - it's especially bassy.

I got my information from a Taco Bell hot sauce packet.

What do I win?

You win the much coveted title of "BIG ENCHILADA"!

 

[drurb]

Because the 'single' Bass is the Cello, now called the Violincello. Therefore the BIG Bass is called the Double Bass. Also, in most of the old music Beethoven and before, the orchestrated parts are for Cello-Bass with most of it in unison but the Bass being a transposing instrument ( I bet most of you did not know this) sounds an octave lower then written. The Tuba, Bassoon and Piano read and sound Bass notes at pitch.

Is there a new question to this old worn out thread?

Gee, Ken, you left out the third answer that we've heard 1000 times before. We have:

1) It's the "big" bass, so it's the "double bass"

2) It sounds an octave lower than what is written, so it is "double bass." (You think most don't know this?)

3) It plays in unison (as you noted) and, by doing so "doubles" the part being played and that in and of itself, apart from the transposition, leads to it being called the "double bass."

Yup, nothing is new here.

 

[fretlessman71]

OOH! I GOT ANOTHER ONE!

If you play electric, then add upright to your repertoire, aren't you "doubling"?

You know, we could go on and on... did I start this way back when? Is this my fault?...

 

[drurb]

OOH! I GOT ANOTHER ONE!

If you play electric, then add upright to your repertoire, aren't you "doubling"?

You know, we could go on and on... did I start this way back when? Is this my fault?...

Well, er... it was called the double bass long before there was an electric and long before anyone knew what electricity was!

 

[fretlessman71]

I know, but.... can't it count ANYWAY???

 

[Illbay]

I was once told that the term "double" bass derives from the fact that the instrument originally doubled the cello's part. Is this true, or a load of horse manure?

Give that man a cigar. You're absolutely correct.

The instrument's standard English name, double bass is derived from the tuning of one octave lower than the cello. It is not related to physical size. The name may derive from its alleged viol family heritage, in that it is tuned lower than the standard bass viola da gamba. The name also refers to the fact that the sounding pitch of the double bass is an octave below the bass clef.

-- Wikipedia, c.f. Double Bass