Doluble Bass

History

• Dates back to 1493
• First relative was the viol
• Used a tuning of 4ths or combination of 3rds and 4ths
• Oldest surviving bass is the contrabasso di viola with 6 strings
• Was able to play in the cello and bass range
• Were originally called a violone
• Converted into 3 or 4 strings in late 16th or early 17th century
• The 5 string bass was most commonly used in Austria and Germany in the early 17th century
• The instruments may have been tuned 40 to 50 different ways

contrabasso di viola

Modern Bass