Double Bass

Double Bass (Ital. contrabasso or violone), the largest stringed instrument of the violin species. Originally it had only three strings, tuned to A, D, G of the bass stave; but as much of the music written for it goes down to E and F below this range, a fourth string is now generally added tuned to E below the bass stave. Playing the funda- mental base on which the harmony rests, it is an indispensable part of an orchestra, though it is only in the 19th century that special parts have been written for it. Formerly its part was simply to double, an octave below, the ordinary base of the harmony, played by some other instrument, or sung by the bass voice. From this probably arose its name of double bass. Though a powerful and essential orchestral instrument, it, on account of its rough tone and difficulty of management, has not, except in very exceptional circumstances, been used as a solo instrument. Domenico Dragonetti (1755-1846) was an unrivalled performer on the double bass.