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Rev 4 - Split - 17

The document discusses four string instruments: the viola, cello, double bass, and bass guitar. It provides information on the range, tuning, and typical uses of each instrument in different musical genres and ensembles.

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Tom Hart
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37 views1 page

Rev 4 - Split - 17

The document discusses four string instruments: the viola, cello, double bass, and bass guitar. It provides information on the range, tuning, and typical uses of each instrument in different musical genres and ensembles.

Uploaded by

Tom Hart
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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octaves above middle C. The open strings are tuned to C, G, D and A (ascending).

At the top
of its range, the viola frequently utilises the treble clef.

The viola is standard in the string section of all orchestras. It is often called for in numbers less
than the violins, in similar forces to the cellos. The viola is also utilised in pop music string
sections, as well as frequent chamber ensemble usage. The viola is rarely encountered outside
of these circles, but is occasionally utilised in other styles of music for effect, owing to its
warm, expressive tone. For a notable use of the string section in jazz, see The Epic by Kamasi
Washington23.

The Cello
The violoncello (almost always shortened to simply cello) is held between the legs, supported
by a point stand, as with the bass clarinet and contrabassoon. Its range is an octave below the
viola’s, from 2 octaves below middle C, to the A two octaves above middle C. The open
strings are tuned to bottom C, ascending in fifths to G, D and A. The primary clef is the bass
clef, although the tenor, alto and treble clefs are often used. Cellists must therefore have the
most fluency in clefs of all instrumentalists (save possibly for conductors).

The cello is a standard bass instrument in the orchestral string family, even when double
basses are not called for. They are the primary bass instrument in string trios, quartets and
orchestras, as basses are not used in any of these. Concerto and chamber works are extensive,
probably third only to the violin and piano. Cellos are also used in pop string sections, and
(very) occasionally in jazz. Wind bands, obviously, do not utilise the cello.

The Double Bass


The double bass (often called the contrabass, string bass, upright bass or simply bass) is the
lowest of all stringed and orchestral instruments. Its written range is from the E two octaves
below middle C, to the G above middle C. The double bass is always written an octave higher
than it sounds. The open strings are tuned to bottom E, A, D and G. Most modern basses have
an extended fingerboard to facilitate the written range a further four semitones down to a
bottom C. In broader classical music, basses are bowed by convention, with occasional
pizzicato. In jazz, folk and the majority of modern music, the reverse is true.

The double bass is standard in the modern orchestra, but pre-18th century use is less common.
in baroque orchestras, the double bass often doubles the continuo line at the lower octave,
playing from the same music as the cellos. Mozart and, progressively, Beethoven gave the
double basses more independence.

Double bass fingerings are identical to that of the bass guitar. For this reason, most pop, rock,
folk and jazz bassists double on both instruments. The two are usually differentiated by the
terms electric and upright bass. The double bass is an essential part in all the aforementioned
genres, often providing the foundation on which the chords are built. In early wartime dance
bands, the bass was occasionally replaced by a bass saxophone. In small jazz ensembles, the

17

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