Double bass

The double bass is widely considered to be the largest and lowest-tuned member of the violin family of string instruments. In reality, however, it is not. It is the only modern descendant of the viola da gamba family of instruments, a family which originated in the 15th century. Members of the viola da gamba family can be characterized most easily by the sloping shoulders (as opposed to the bulging shoulders of the violin).It resembles the other members of the family, but is much larger and has slight differences in shape. The instrument is known by several other names (especially when used in folk, bluegrass, Western and jazz music), including contrabass, string bass, upright bass, standup bass, acoustic bass, bass viol, bass violin, doghouse bass, dog-house, bull fiddle, hoss bass, and bunkhouse bass. A person who plays this instrument is called a double-bassist or contrabassist.

Double bass in jazz

The bass is one of the most prominent instruments in jazz. The early jazz ensemble (from about 1890) was initialy a marching band with tuba (or occasionally bass saxophone) supplying the bass line. As the music moved into bars, clubs, and brothels, the double bass gradually replaced these wind instruments. Initially playing 2 or 4 beats to a bar, the walking bass line was an early melodic, harmonic invention that is still evolving today. Because an unamplified double bass is generally the quietest instrument in a jazz band, many players of the 1920s and 1930s used the aforementioned slap style.

Related Topics:
Jazz - Bass saxophone

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It could be said that with nearly every major change in the evolution of jazz, double bass players have contributed in an important way. Examples include swing era players such as Ray Brown and Jimmy Blanton, who played with Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson. All were famous for their ablity to swing and drive a big band along, often without amplification, in addition to being great small ensemble players.

Related Topics:
Ray Brown - Jimmy Blanton - Duke Ellington - Oscar Peterson

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The cool style of jazz has been influenced and extended by players such as Scott LaFaro (a refined and stunning technical and musical virtuosity) or we could consider someone like Percy Heath who played in an unforgettably solid but swinging manner and whose solos were melodically graceful and poetic. One must not forget the great Paul Chambers who worked on the Kind of Blue album with Miles Davis, one of the most influential albums in the history of jazz.

Related Topics:
Scott LaFaro - Percy Heath - Paul Chambers - Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

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Free jazz was embraced and extended by players such as Charles Mingus and Charlie Haden.

Related Topics:
Free jazz - Charles Mingus - Charlie Haden

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Jazz rock was the time of players such as Stanley Clarke and Miroslav Vitou?, and although both of these players used electric bass they did not neglect the double bass, incorporating bowed and pizzicato solos that showed Spanish and classical influence.

Related Topics:
Stanley Clarke - Miroslav Vitou? - Pizzicato

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Today many modern jazz pieces are composed with the double bass in mind, and much musical freedom is allowed. On the other hand, it must compete with the electric bass for a spot in jazz lineups, though it is more common than in rock lineups.

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