The History of the Upright Bass Sammy Leonard High School Gen. Music

In The Beginning No one knows when the upright bass was officially made but it was first recorded in the early 17 th century by Michael Praetorius. No one knows when the upright bass was officially made but it was first recorded in the early 17 th century by Michael Praetorius. It was described as a violon da gamba sub-bass, had five strings, stood over 8 feet tall, and was tuned very much like modern upright bass. It was described as a violon da gamba sub-bass, had five strings, stood over 8 feet tall, and was tuned very much like modern upright bass.

The upright bass then and now

Evolution Originally the upright bass was a fretted instrument and it wasn’t until the 1800s that the frets were removed. Originally the upright bass was a fretted instrument and it wasn’t until the 1800s that the frets were removed. The upright bass bow hand technique and German bow stayed the same and is still used today. The upright bass bow hand technique and German bow stayed the same and is still used today.

Evolution 2 Although there was a new technique for bowing invented called the French bow where the bow was held in a overhand position and not underhand like the German bow. Although there was a new technique for bowing invented called the French bow where the bow was held in a overhand position and not underhand like the German bow.

French VS German

French VS German cont. Pro to having a French bow is speed, you can move your arm faster with the technique of the grip for French bow Pro to having a French bow is speed, you can move your arm faster with the technique of the grip for French bow Pro to German is because of the grip you can get more sound out of the bass. Pro to German is because of the grip you can get more sound out of the bass.

Evolution 3 In the early days of the upright bass the size of the bass sometimes reached the height of 13 to 15 feet high, they called this the octobasse or the grand bass. In the early days of the upright bass the size of the bass sometimes reached the height of 13 to 15 feet high, they called this the octobasse or the grand bass. Now a days the basses are usually 3/4ths the size usually only about six feet tall. Now a days the basses are usually 3/4ths the size usually only about six feet tall.

Evolution 4 The stings they used back then were usually made out of guts from an animal and made it hard to get a good tone that lasted a long time. The stings they used back then were usually made out of guts from an animal and made it hard to get a good tone that lasted a long time. With the invention of steel wound strings the tone would last longer and made it much easier to play. With the invention of steel wound strings the tone would last longer and made it much easier to play.

Strings cont. With the invention of the steel wound strings can more custom string that allowed players to adapt to what kind of music they were playing. With the invention of the steel wound strings can more custom string that allowed players to adapt to what kind of music they were playing. Some different string you can get are pizzicato strings (used strictly for plucking the bass) Arco strings (used only for bowing the bass) and Hybrid strings which are used both for plucking and bowing. Some different string you can get are pizzicato strings (used strictly for plucking the bass) Arco strings (used only for bowing the bass) and Hybrid strings which are used both for plucking and bowing.

Inventions A good invention that came along was the low C extension consisting of levers next to the fingerboard allowing the player to extend his range from a E to a C. A good invention that came along was the low C extension consisting of levers next to the fingerboard allowing the player to extend his range from a E to a C. This pretty much took the place of a five stringed bass making the bass easier to play This pretty much took the place of a five stringed bass making the bass easier to play

The low C extension

Music for the Bass Not only did the bass itself evolve but the music did as well. In the beginning of the bass all bass music was just in mostly orchestra accompanying solo players. But now there is a wide of variety of solo music for the Double Bass.

The Future Bass With the whole evolution of the bass and how far its came; upright basses are now used in a large variety of music including rock, jazz, bluegrass, and of course classical music. Its hard to tell how much farther the bass as well as other instruments will evolve.

The End

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