A humorous introduction to the double bass | Bret Simner | TEDxBasel

Why is a double bass called a double bass? Bret Simner shares his history with the instrument and beautifully plays a piece by Johann Baptist Vanhal on his classical double bass - both music and instrument were created around 1760.
The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern. This animation was created by Bianca Caderas, Helen Bosand and Zea Schaad.
Find out more about this event and the other ideas that were shared at www.tedxbasel.com/
Bret Simner is a native of Queens, New York, and a graduate of the Juilliard School. An early music specialist, he has studied at preeminent music schools across Europe and North America. He currently serves as principal bassist of Barockorchester Cantus Firmus. He has appeared as a guest lecturer and soloist on the Viennese bass, and in ensemble work in the US and across Europe. He lives in Basel with his wife and son.
Favorite TED talk: Adam Grant, The surprising habits of original thinkers
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@meta5175]

How other people see: violin, violin, big violin, giant violin

[@gto1607]

And the friggen big huge mther of all basses.

[@toxiccat2081]

Natasha Jiang What about the octobasse? MEGA violin?

[@SauceKingg]

Violin, violin .😂😂😂

[@isabel7428]

Natasha Jiang baby cello, cello child, cello, grandpa cello

[@anilkraft1479]

InkedFopdoodle violin viola bass viola and double bass viola

[@giovil]

a 5 string double bass with frets. WOW

[@bretsimner754]

You have a keen eye! ;)

[@gto1607]

I didn't even notice. thanks for pointing that out. I assumed it was a four especially because it looks very old and a 5 string double is a modern thing.

[@PanglossDr]

If I'd had frets on the fiddle I learned as a child I might not have made people cover their ears.

[@bretsimner754]

It couldn't have been that bad! When I played the villa as a kid, it was pretty bad!

[@buckshotandthepepperbox3042]

Was it originally a three stringer? She's got quite a neck. Do the frets make her a gamba? Well done.

[@DaveScottAggie]

Those fret bands interested me too. I first started in orchestra when I was 11. I knew what a violin and a cello were. The teacher asked what I wanted to play, so I asked for the cello. He was trying to fill out parts and had enough cellos already. He said they had openings for viola and bass. I had never heard of a viola - he said it was kind of like the violin. I wasn't sure. I said what about the bass? He said "what kind of car do your parents have?" I said "a station wagon". He told me that the bass would be great for me :) I did not major in music, but I still play in a community orchestra, and sometimes at church.

[@bretsimner754]

Great story David. Thanks for sharing!

[@adisillusionedidiotandpast7865]

David Scott I locrian'd in music

[@ibdavidc]

Great story . . . but for the record, the other bass player drove a VW Beetle, and he got his bass in no problems. :-)

[@squidwardqtentacles6816]

Sometimes I have to transport my bass in my dad's two door Hyundai Tiburon. It's all about the angle

[@masonminnicks984]

The same shot happend to me except I got the viola instead of the double bass

[@AlexRamirez-bf4fy]

8/4th sized cello

[@bretsimner754]

That's one way of thinking about it!

[@gto1607]

Is it a a 3/4 size double. Most likely for portability.

[@leocomerford]

Careful, you're wandering into the 'it's a big cello!' 'no, it's an updated gamba!' wars...

[@bretsimner754]

You're right! Much blood has been shed in this battle!

[@SpaceCowboy57]

1/2 size octobasse.

[@praz.official]

That bow's color difference threw me off completely. I was like, "why's he playing with it upside down...oh wait."

[@daravila]

Praz M same

[@aanyan5253]

Same

[@Leon-vc2qh]

Prasanth Madana OMG same

[@sebastianrojas9719]

Prasanth Madana same🤣

[@mochievious1552]

Same!!

[@marcscordato4385]

Never seen a fretted double bass before. There is something about the sound of a double bass, it seems so honest and sincere it pleads it longs it Yearns.

[@bretsimner754]

Indeed, this is a period instrument. Back in the time of Mozart, most basses were fretted. This went out of style in the late 18th and early 19th century. Thanks so much for watching and for your thoughts!

[@doblofiber992]

The fretts are handmade by old stings, that worn off... and viola da gamba was also fretted this way.

[@rdavis666]

My music teacher used slivers of sellotape to mark finger positions on both cellos & bass which of course had no frets.

[@nou6990]

The similar applies to saxophone; Soprano: golden clarinet Alto: sax Tenor: sax Baritone: what?

[@jmconnollyus]

to say nothing of bass (not the fish), contrabass (even more not the fish), sopranino, C melody, etc., ... It's interesting to go back and watch the looney tunes cartoons to hear all the bass sax in the music.

[@nickeman132]

What musicians' see: Violin Viola Cello Double Bass Octobasse What non-musicians see: Violin Violin Big Violin Bigger Violin Oh what the f

[@BE-NOT-AFRAID]

Octobasse is the one my friends said "I give" to when naming it.

[@snickydoodle4744]

What twosetters see: Violin Firewood Cello Double Bass

[@Princess18505]

Im a bassist and when i see the octobasse i see a "what the abomination"

[@chaotixthefox]

@@Princess18505 The octobasse is quite nice to hear though!

[@bogdang7726]

Tenor violin, piccolo violin.

[@ireneahumada5025]

I was walking by careying my double bass and a bunch of teenagers were sat down chatting, and I heard "look, wtf, it's a giant violin" that was really funny😂😂

[@hamjazz]

How do you get that under your chin?? --If I had a neck like yours,I'd have no trouble.

[@JacqueHarper]

@@hamjazz Under the chin isn't nearly as big a problem as stabbing yourself with the endpin.

[@ethanl.1699]

My friends are like: Violin=Violin Viola=Bigger Violin Cello=Bigger Bigger Violin Bass=Bigger Bigger Bigger Violin

[@bretsimner754]

Yup, that's kinda how it goes! Thanks for watching and for chiming in!

[@mohammedchatir530]

Ethan Lam il

[@macm.3889]

(Here’s a joke, please don’t kill me) Which is bigger, a violin or a viola? *Actually* , they’re the same size. A violin just looks a lot smaller next to a violinist’s head.

[@timpark02]

More like Viola = Irrelevant

[@mikelewis495]

Funny story: the full classical name for "cello" is "violoncello" so..... Not too far off.

[@ronforyouruncle4406]

"it's not a cello." that is all you needed to say.

[@bretsimner754]

You're so right on!!!

[@coffeeandwords3483]

It's a full-size cello.

[@daravila]

Coffee and Words no , its about a 3/1 sized cello

[@pellaw8011]

Mine is a 1/8 size (I'm very short). Literally the size of a large cello. My pain is real

[@hannahnoel3035]

I switched from violin to double Bass so I could be in my high school's jazz band and I can tell you almost no one knows what it is.

[@EvilSean62]

also none of them can tell you how much a set of strings are costing

[@f5mando]

@@EvilSean62 Nor how often they need to be replaced...

[@hyperplayability6290]

@@EvilSean62 😭NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO DON'T

[@bluetannery1527]

As an electric bass player, this instrument endlessly fascinates me. I’ve had exactly one opportunity to play a 3/4 bass and it was so much fun. I’m in the process of figuring out how to play more without spending over a thousand dollars on it hahaha

[@bretsimner754]

Will, why don't you rent for a bit and see if you like it? Thanks for watching!

[@bluetannery1527]

Bret Simner That’s a really good idea i’ve spent the past half hour researching that

[@bluetannery1527]

Bret Simner Oh Mr. Simner- What’s the name of the piece you played? I thought it was amazing

[@bretsimner754]

Vanhall concerto in D!

[@violintegral]

No one knows what a viola is, especially ling ling. They're just a myth that's only in nightmares

[@nickeman132]

Ling Ling knows the viola. He did not invent it but his greatest rival Long Long

[@ian_iz_rainbowz6227]

Well, ling ling practices 40 hours a day so he has many nightmares so of course he knows what it is

[@violintegral]

Ling ling does not have time to sleep. Only to practice. God's don't need sleep and can't experience nightmares

[@kayakozlowski2757]

nobody can match Ling Ling

[@lance4842]

LingLing doesn't need to sleep.

[@thetalllucy2983]

i play double bass, and I shoud be practicing

[@citrineandmelody2829]

I started playing bass when I was 11, and I just fell in love with it ever since. I’m the only double bass in my orchestra, which just goes to show how practically nobody knows what it is.

[@bretsimner754]

Well, that's something that you can show them! Play on!

[@nivek326]

are those frets?? moveable ones?

[@bretsimner754]

Yes, self-tied from gut and 100% moveable! Thanks for watching!

[@nivek326]

Bret Simer and gut strings?

[@bretsimner754]

Yes, the uppers are from Carlo Chiesa, and the lowers from Nicholas Baldock.

[@holdendaugherty1760]

Bret Simer Great performance! looking for an affordable double bass. (Even a cheap cello)

[@sohappy2468]

Holden Daugherty, the best sounds come from better basses. Don't risk getting an extremely cheap instrument.

[@maxliu2587]

After all this time my mom still calls my double bass a “cello”

[@zaynabmartin3496]

Best comment 😂

[@HBDeus]

Double bass: biggest and lowest OCTOBASS: HOLd MY BoW

[@Mossishere]

Triple Contrabass viol- Just gimme a second for someone to try to recreate me so that someone can hold my boy

[@kristenpressner6795]

great job Bret, making the double bass funny and accessible, well done

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much Kristen--such a compliment coming from you! Looking forward to your talk as well!

[@violacola]

Are you implying that more people know what a viola is then a double bass? I can speak from personal experience as a violist that this is not true. I did enjoy the talk and the piece played at the end was wonderful, but I just felt astounded that someone could know about a viola (an instrument really only used in orchestra) and not a bass (an instrument common in jazz and blues).

[@bretsimner754]

Great point. My experience is that more people can recognize a bass, but have no idea what it is actually called--hence "that big thing." We'd have to do a survey of about 1000 people to really get a fair sampling on this issue. Where shall we start? Thanks for your thoughts and for watching as well!

[@sorayaimperial]

From name, I actually know what a viola is and not a double bass. This because in Portuguese we also call it a Viola but we call it a Contrabaixo, which means roughly Contrabass (like the contrabassoon). Without looking at the instrument, I'd assume it wasn't the same thing! Also, when I was a kid, I just assumed it was all cellos (which we call violoncelo or rabecão).

[@chrisnoran]

"How many of you know what a cello is?" Lil Yachty keeps his hand down

[@Shmyrk]

Christopher Noran she blow me like a cellooooo

[@fredson_hu]

@@Shmyrk "I thought squidward played the cello"

[@spudmckenzie4959]

@@fredson_hu clarinet is what he played

[@LouisVDon]

spud mckenzie nah mans played an f oboe which is a major third higher than a b-flat clarinet.

[@zacharycarman3465]

Thank for bringing light to this instrument. I play the double bass out of Georgia and half of my friends don't even know what the double bass is. It's refreshing to see someone talented like try to show the world this instrument. I was also wondering were you got your Baroque bow from. It's beautifully crafted and were ever you got it I would love to snag one for my self

[@bretsimner754]

I made the bow myself some years back. Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words!

[@richardrea6397]

@@bretsimner754 I really like your bow. And, yes I should go practice too.

[@sissihirvitys]

Wow. I have NEVER seen an acoustic guitar that large!!

[@AB-vn2jc]

Justin Y. Fake Justin y

[@nutty422]

Fake

[@kristenpressner6795]

Bret, I love that this TEDx talk is among the most popular double bass videos on all of KZbin! It really speaks to how well done it was. Mixing education, beautiful music and humor. A truly tough ask. Kudos!

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks for you're continued support Kristen!

[@destinyleroy9008]

I love the double bass honestly, it’s an under appreciated and beautiful instrument. I can’t wait to get back into playing, bassists are always in need.

[@bretsimner754]

Go for it, then post a video!

[@woutmoerman711]

Nice talk and performance! I play double bass in classical, jazz and church and I think that in the Netherlands the double bass is known to at least half of the population. It's a pity that you've played a piece which doesn't show the beautiful deep low notes of the double bass. What you've played could have sounded better on a cello but the low note is where the beauty is.

[@nivek326]

what kind of bow is that?

[@bretsimner754]

This is a baroque bow that I made in my workshop out of Canadian Maple. Thanks for asking!

[@twistedparadoxELITE]

baroque bow

[@CGreyL3]

twistedparadoxELITE If it ain't baroque don't fix it.

[@bretsimner754]

Great pun. I suppose we all walked right int that one!

[@Im0nJupiter]

Looks dragonetti esque

[@IanCallardComp]

I was waiting for him to bust out dragonetti concerto 😂 Ive been playing that piece for a lot of auditions and my mind has subconsciously decided that the concerto is THE double bass piece

[@bretsimner754]

Ian, with the amount that you are practicing, I just hope that you can comfortably sleep without hearing it! Thanks for watching!

[@IanCallardComp]

Bret Simner well I really like listening to it when i go to sleep. Especially the second movement. Everytime I listen to it i find some new texture! Truly a masterpiece of the giant violin 😂

[@dahliaharoon6367]

OMG ME TOO! Like I thought the exact same thing and I played it for an audition too! But I think eccles sonata is THE bass piece

[@mikebaker5088]

I just stumbled upon this. Thank you for such an interesting talk and performance. I'm always humbled by the things that I can learn by watching things like this.

[@bretsimner754]

It always humble me that I can offer something to someone I've never met. Thanks for checking in, Mike!

[@squidwardqtentacles6816]

omg so many people have come up to me be and been like: "woah that's a big cello" 😑😑😑😑

[@bretsimner754]

All I can say is get used to it! In many ways it only gets worse with time! Thanks for watching!

[@erionlewis8006]

I hate that!!

[@robing7517]

I'm forwarding this to my niece. She is eleven and began learning to play bass back in September. She loves it and has named her bass "Felix." Her school orchestra's first concert is this coming Wednesday! Yes, I am very proud if her!!

[@bretsimner754]

You SHOULD be proud of her!!!! I hope the concert goes well!! Tell her I'm thinking of her!!!

[@LoganNagol]

The best thing about playing double bass is the people...legit they are always the chilliest most cool people in the orchestra in my 8 years of playing it I only met like 2 out of hundreds that didn’t fit the chill cool stereotype and they didn’t play bass for long

[@bretsimner754]

So true!

[@TypewriterJustice]

Even more impressive than your excellent presentation & performance is how graciously and helpfully you have followed the comments on this video - an ongoing, repetitive, and, i'm sure, sometimes frustrating task. BRAVO!! As a fellow bassist, i applaud your efforts :)

[@bretsimner754]

I find people to always be interesting. If we don't lifte each other up, then everything else is pointless. With that, thanks for YOUR support!

[@stormbreaker1773]

I remember accompany a double bass player in my high school class with this piece. I really love how the bass was in the spotlight with a very cool solo at the end.

[@bretsimner754]

You know, a pianist was the thing missing at the event. Shame that you weren't around! Thanks for watching and for your thoughts!

[@CesarJoseee]

Woah, that's a big cello.

[@MonsieurArlequin]

I like to joke that I play the very big viola, it irritates the more snobbish players but hilarious to the other bassist

[@joeval12x23]

I thought it was a guitar

[@morten1]

HUGE violin

[@daravila]

To whoever is in school in an orchestra and your teacher talks to the violinists and violists , and they say , hold your instrument with your chin , and you try . Ive played cell for 3 years

[@toxiccat2081]

The Reptilian Wizard Lizard *Triggered*

[@viviansteele9241]

“I got payed to play 2 notes!” Life of a bass player

[@AdrienRako]

3:34 Tubist at the center left was sad and his wife tried to make him feel better

[@missingno3391]

When he plays the harmonics in his performance at the end it sounds very similar to a harp. Very beautiful!

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much!

[@genesisf155]

I love playing double bass. I played for two years but due to moving i had to give it up. After 2 more years my mom on my birthday suprised me and bought me my own! I cried as soon as my bow grazed the bass. I soon named her leviousa. And i absolutely love her!

[@bretsimner754]

Congrats!

[@kieratroost4685]

the five strings really caught me off guard. I play the bass and never knew those existed

[@bretsimner754]

Kiera Troost they’re quite popular in Europe!

[@kyberbricks3781]

Beautiful playing, and very interesting, I dont see many 5 string double basses often! 😄

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks! Come to Europe--you'll see them everywhere!

[@EmiLia-us4cz]

Wow that was so cool! Great performance, always love to see a fellow string player with a passion for their instrument

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much. Glad you liked it!

[@johngaither9263]

I played the bass in a high school band with no string program. I transferred from a school that did and was hunted up by the director who was creating a 40's type stage band for competition. I had to join the regular band to do so and VIOLA there I was. Marching season was a problem, but the director only did the minimum and the rest was concert music.

[@bretsimner754]

I'm so sorry that your experience wasn't more positive.

[@finalscore2983]

5 string double bass leaves me saying "OH DADDY!"

[@spudmckenzie4959]

I want one aswell

[@lancethrustworthy]

Okay. Cool, now where's the full length version? He's demonstrated that a full length talk would be good. Where is it?

[@bretsimner754]

I'd love to do it sometime Dan! Thanks for watching!

[@tonitovt]

This video still leaves me immersed to continue playing with a passion.

[@bretsimner754]

Alas, there really is no other way to play! Thanks for watching!

[@djoy81]

Bret, you make it look so easy. Thanks for sharing! I was lucky enough to learn the double bass in primary and secondary school. Then I moved over to electric bass in uni and NS Stick a few years ago. I finally came back full circle (sort of) with an Ibanez UB804 this year. French holder over here...

[@bretsimner754]

Cool, thanks for sharing!

[@James_Wisniewski]

I just noticed he's playing a five-string bass. I didn't even know contrabass came with five strings.

[@sfacademyorchestra]

Well done Bret!

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much!

[@lukenjanahavas]

So great, Bret! Couldn't believe it when I saw this video down the right sidebar. You're damn right I want to see a Ted Talk about the Double Bass. Just wish it were longer. You did a great job!

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much Sara. Nice to hear from an Eastman colleague after all these years!

[@iandickeson3510]

I played Bass and Tuba in school and keep it up today. I think learning the fundamentals on Tuba helped with bass alot.

[@bretsimner754]

Absolutely!!!

[@williamjc7195]

I'm a bit confused. I saw vid that stated the bass as known now, was standardized around 1800.A consensus of musicians, composers, and instrument makers(artists). yes/no? Also ,why is cello tuned differently?

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks for your question. First, a cello is tuned in 5ths mainly because the notes are closer together, hence more notes can be played in one position. The tuning of the bass was still varied throughout the 1800s depending on the country. Still, 4ths became the norm. Some bassists do play in 5ths though! Many thanks for watching!

[@JohnDoe-dh8xc]

Bret Simer Playing in fifths takes all the tension off 4th and 3rd strings. The first has a bit more tension to is but not much. Overall it is fun to play.

[@bretsimner754]

I assume you use a solo string for the high A? Bravo for doing this!

[@JohnDoe-dh8xc]

Bret Simer No but I am considering switching to a slight lighter guage for that A. However it's only a whole step so it's not quite as drastic as a low C. I should add I'm doing this on an electric bass and the scale length reacts far differently.

[@bretsimner754]

Sounds interesting!

[@FostersLab]

Really appreciated this talk, informative, funny, pleasing to the ear. And the fact that you answer most of the comments under this video is very nice :) By any chance, do you have an idea of when the term "upright bass" appeared, and why? I always wondered. In France, we call this instrument "contrebasse", which is actually a more specific term than the "contrabass" you use in english to describe lower-ptiched string instruments, I believe. Cheers from France!

[@bretsimner754]

Thank so much for your kind words. I honestly have no idea when the term "upright bass" originated; great question though. The instrument has had so many names through the years that no one can agree. Thanks for watching!

[@thehollytree1532]

I don't know much about the name but as a upright bassist who plays jazz i think it might come from the electric bass being played on its side (fret board horizontal) whereas the double is played more 'upright'. I certainly hear the term more from jazz than orchestral players

[@CharlesStClair-tb9iy]

When I was in high school, I played trombone in the school concert band and jazz band. One day, I was rummaging around on the stage and found an old double bass. It was made of aluminum and probably hadn't been played in years. It was in pretty bad shape and I got permission from the band director to take it to my friend's dad's auto body shop and try to take out the dents and see if we could make it playable. He stripped the paint off it, pounded out the dents, and repainted it making it look like wood grain. I bought some strings for it and taught myself to play it. I played it in the jazz band and in a Dixieland band through high school. I gave it up because being a rock and roll star was cooler than playing "When the Saints Go Marching In." I wonder where that bass ended up.

[@bretsimner754]

Do you still play? When I was at Juilliard, we found an old aluminum bass in an abandoned locker. While the sound was ok, the bell-like sound when you rested it down on the floor was horrible! 😃Thanks for watching and for sharing your story! Cheers, Bret

[@azzurres1]

It tell you about that instrument one thing: you will feel its sound when you are in front of it life... tv isnt a good place for it.. listen to cello and double bass live and it will open your heart.

[@kennethgibson5728]

that bass must be worth the price of a house..

[@Andrew-cc9pr]

"The double bass is he lowest in the strings family" what about the octobass😂

[@bretsimner754]

Touché, Andrew, you got me there!!!!

[@seikoocekili_6063]

Andrew Pihonak octobass is a double bass on steroids

[@bretsimner754]

Interesting way to think of it! I haven't heard that one before!

[@ratpatooti]

The octobass sounds like a broken lawnmower. I really don't feel like it has a purpose in an orchestra but I could be wrong.

[@bretsimner754]

You know, I must applaud your boldness; the octobass has become so fashionable that no one seems willing to give a country opinion. Have you ever heard one live?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

TEDx Talks I have a Bass Guitar, it's much easier to carry than a Double Bass & it was invented in the 1930s. It origianlly started as a Fretless Bass in 1935 invented by Tutmarc (Being a Scaled Down Upright Bass makes it a cool invention) but 5 years later they've added frets to it so that it looks & plays more like a Guitar. However Bassists Jaco & Bill Wyman bought the Fretless Bass back home.

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks for your insight!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@bretsimner754 Ibanez makes the UB804 which takes Standard Bass Guitar Strings.

[@beepboopbobop]

My dreams were crushed when school closed because I just started learning the double bass and I absolutely loved it.

[@bretsimner754]

So sorry--you can still do virtual lessons though!

[@qtube9234]

how do you stop your violin from being stolen? you put it in a viola case

[@bretsimner754]

Nice one! My wife is actually a violist! 🤣

[@benren10]

Does that bass have frets????

[@f5mando]

This was fascinating to watch and hear, Bret. I see 5 strings, but only four tuning pegs. Lower frets, and it looks 3/4 size on my screen. *I couldn't find a 'stand-up bass' player, so was forced to hire an electric bass player for my band once, but I wouldn't do it again, unless of course, the money was right....!

[@TheHurricanePrint]

Thanks Bret. I've played the electric bass (Fender currently) for many years and I've always been fascinated with the double bass. I've never tried to play one, but recently started thinking about taking one up. I was searching for info on KZbin and came across your video. Excellent presentation and playing. I was also amazed at the fretted aspect of your instrument. I read from the comments that it's a period instrument. Very interesting. Regards and well done from Ireland. 🙂

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks for watching, John, and what a lovely story. Let me know if you decide to come over to the double bass. I have a Fender Jazz bass as well! Cheers, Bret

[@Pepper-cd9yr]

1:21 i can't stop laughing at his huge breath

[@bretsimner754]

The mike was reeeallllly sensitive....... LOL...you're so right!

[@generalloof5659]

Ling ling called. They don't approve of the 5 string bass.

[@avidrucker]

Awesome talk and awesome playing Bret. Much respect and your student as always ~ Avi

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much! Nice to hear from you!!!

[@mcmh9523]

Beautiful instrument with beautiful sound. It's interesting to see so much resemblances this instrument has to the ancient violone. Fretted fingerboard with five strings along with some other viol-esque touches...

[@bretsimner754]

It IS a violone! Great eye!

[@Lepewhi]

Bravo, If I didn't already play the viola, I would have played the bass.

[@bretsimner754]

Well, we need the great violists as well! Thanks for watching!

[@daravila]

Bret Simner when i fisrt picked and instrument, there wasnt an option for bass , i chose cello

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

"Double bass is the lowest in the bass family." What about Sunn O)))?

[@hoanghuynh4034]

Viola De Gamba .... Convertible Double bass to Beautiful Viola de gamba 5 to 7 strings . So versatile instrument

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks for watching!

[@akgypsy]

Very interesting and informative. I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments, and your responses to them, as well. I have considered getting a double bass, and I even have a vehicle large enough to transport it, but my musical styles are generally reggae, blues, rock, classic rock, and country, so I stick with electric. It's certainly more easily portable. I play a 5 string fretless, though, and love the tone over a fretted instrument. I was also raised playing classical piano, flute, and oboe, but fell in love with bass at age 16, and have now been playing pretty much exclusively bass since I was in my late 30's. Am now 67 and still rocking, but will always love classical music. Thanks for a lovely talk and demo of Vanhal's piece.

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much. If you can find a bass, I say go for it! Our time on this earth is to try new things. Why not add to your musical arsenal? Rock on! B

[@Atlas65]

5:11 "Bass solo, take one"

[@tmbs1139]

is that...a fretted bass?

[@bretsimner754]

Yes, a period Viennese bass. Thanks for your question!

[@zoroxtreme867]

Also 5 strings

[@wheattoast1971]

Maybe it’s just because I am only versed in the standard 4 string double bass. How do you tune this? The low string still sounded like the famous E1 to me.

[@bretsimner754]

D-A-D-f-sharp-A!

[@carolwidder2699]

My all time favorite double bass concerto.

[@bretsimner754]

All three movements are great! Thanks for watching!

[@ellamcginley524]

I used to play viola and actually play double bass

[@bretsimner754]

My wife is a violist! There's a bunch of music from the classical period for bass and viola--not that one could play both at the same time! Thanks for watching!

[@shawhennessey3178]

Geeze, and I thought my electric bass was big.

[@bretsimner754]

Well, don't forget, you need to carry an amp as well! Thanks for watching!

[@jonnypayne598]

Me too😁

[@johnalcorn2967]

In 6th grade I played Violin...in 7th grade I was put into the BAND...(why?)...I could not do many of the things my band instructor asked of me including "could I whistle? No Sir"...ok then you're a sousaphone player...LOL. This carried on through the next 8 years into college (Wabaunsee CC in Sugar Grove Illinois) where in the spring of my second year our Professor came to me and said "I've formed a 5 piece stage band and you're the String Bass player, we have a performance a week from Tuesday. I responded I do not know to play the String Bass. Well John you had better learn because we have a gig a week from Tuesday...and that my friends is how I learned to play the String Bass.

[@ryanposner]

How do you feel about "technique" vs. "whatever works"? For example (and I could be wrong) the frets feel to me like that they may have come out of the "whatever works" category and then became more formalized. Thoughts?

[@bretsimner754]

Historically, the frets came out of the "that's what the mambas did" mentality. It wasn't because people couldn't play in tune, rather it had to do with the type of sound they were going for. The "Whatever works" mentality needs to be balanced with true technique. Both have their pluses and minuses. "Whatever works" can be limiting in that it doesn't acknowledge other ways of doing things. "True technique" can turn into "my teacher said so". This has its own limiting problems as well. Its really a balancing act. Great question. Thanks for this!

[@kirk4522]

why does he have 5 strings I only have 4

[@bretsimner754]

This is because the bass is in Viennese tuning. This tuning was used with five strings. In "normal" tuning, however, the choice of 4 or 5 strings is up to the individual. Let's not forget that the 3-string bass was the norm in Italy in the time of Verdi!

[@ShootAUT]

I wonder what his teacher got paid for playing *those* two notes.

[@bretsimner754]

The late Homer Mensch!

[@4saken404]

I can't get over how chonking HUGE those tuning pegs are!

[@bretsimner754]

They're viennese pegs!

[@shunkela]

What he said about playing tuba reminds me of one of my favorite poems, Instrument of Choice by Robert Phillips

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks for letting us all know about this! Instrument of Choice - Robert Phillips She was a girl no one ever chose for teams of clubs, dances or dates, so she chose the instrument no one else wanted: the tuba. Big as herself, heavy as her heart, its golden tubes and coils encircled her like a lover's embrace. Its body pressed on hers. Into its mouthpiece she blew life, its deep-throated oompahs, oompahs sounding, almost, like mating cries.

[@rayjones3212]

Now that I know why it is called a double bass, why is it also called a "doghouse bass?"

[@bretsimner754]

That is a great question. I have no idea!

[@jacktowers7533]

A 5 string double bass with frets, all you gotta do is add a cutaway and it will complete the trifecta of blasphemy XD

[@coreydavidson3501]

Thank you! I never knew why it was called double bass. My son started out with cello and quickly moved to the bass. I didn't realize quite how much bigger it was and a new car to fit 4 people. the bass, and the stool was in order. He then wanted to be an orchestra teacher and now says he wants to be a luthier. We will see.

[@bretsimner754]

Sounds like such an interesting path! You must be a truly nurturing and supporting parent. Well done!😍

[@empereurjustinien2082]

you are a killer bass player my friend i'm a guitar playe/electric bassists who just picked up an upright thanks a lot for the video

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much!

[@zxinsWorld]

"Lowest of the orchestral string instrument[s family]" Uh no, that title goes to octobasses.

[@bretsimner754]

OK, you got me there!

[@philipyao5989]

zxin's World contraoctobass

[@literallyh3093]

why not play some skrillex on that thing

[@bretsimner754]

What is that? Enlighten me!

[@literallyh3093]

Sonny John Moore, known professionally as Skrillex, is an American electronic music producer. I feel playing modern songs on the Double Bass would attract some much needed attention to it. Asking if you could play some skrillex was an exaggeration of the idea although if possible it would prove to be most amusing.

[@bretsimner754]

Just checked it out. Would be cool though--maybe with reverb. ;)

[@bretsimner754]

Cool. Thanks so much for your research!

[@Towel1e]

Because that instrument was made for music.

[@redrubeNYC]

i have never seen anyone mark the positions on the fingerboard like that. are they frets?

[@ChinekeFoundation]

Awesome! Bravo Bret... this was educational as well as entertaining! x

[@bretsimner754]

Thanks so much!

[@mrcarrot155]

Its a violin on steroids

[@bretsimner754]

Indeed!

[@Disc147]

Hey what about octobass, stop repressing minority instruments gosh. Even if there are only seven in them we know of.

[@bretsimner754]

True. Have you ever played one? I still haven't had the opportunity!

[@Disc147]

Bret Simner unfortunately not Australia isn't well known for it's love of historical instruments. I hope the joke was explicit rather than implicit.

[@bretsimner754]

No problem!

[@daravila]

I wish i could play a bass or any other type of bass , ive played for 3 years on the cello

[@bretsimner754]

Now is a great time to start!

[@nicklloyd9165]

Nice job Brett! Takes balls to get up there, keep things interesting, and keep it flowing.

[@bretsimner754]

Thank so much Nick! Nice to hear from you. Keep making great basses!

[@fenjazz4]

Wow fret lines on the board and around the neck! Cool

[@littlesnowflakepunk855]

That's not a double bass. That's a bass viol.

[@bretsimner754]

Actually, a bass viol is the lowest of the gamba instruments. It can still be held between the knees. Feel free to google it for pics. Growing up, I thought this as well. Some people call this instrument a Violone, but there are quite a few terms that apply. Thanks for watching and for your thought!

[@gto1607]

What do you mean by lowest? It has more notes below e than the largest bass?

[@bretsimner754]

I mean that of the instruments in that family, the bass has the lowest tones--that is it is the lowest of that (Planyavsky term) "human-sized" instruments.

[@zayzaya.8820]

I started playing the double bass at the age of 9. Then discovered the bass guitar at 11. Needless to say, I dropped the double bass real fast. No offense but it's just more my style considering I'm a 14 year old In his metal and rock fazes 😂

[@bretsimner754]

Everyone should play the music they love. There is certainly no shame in that!

[@arthurtucker2833]

Zayzay Abayomi I play bass guitar because it's easy af while double bass is hard

[@zayzaya.8820]

Arthur Tucker That’s not true at a all

[@arthurtucker2833]

Zayzay Abayomi yeah it is, it's like guitar but it's easy. That's why loads of bassists start with guitar then change because they give up.

[@daravila]

Nothing gets easier before it gets harder, just try your best

[@teratism143]

Cool - a five string double bass with "frets". I've been around instruments all my life but I don't think I've seen this configuration. The different string tensions/tuning, choice of piece, and of course the performance make this like traveling back in time. Thanks for your work.

[@bretsimner754]

Indeed, tunings and the number of strings have constantly evolved throughout the years THANK YOU for your support! B

[@Bass742]

I might be wrong but the double bass he's using is a vineese bass and they are vey historical double basses

[@Dead_Mans_Tale]

my 5th grade orchestra teacher worked with me and my best friend he was super tall while i was one of the smallest in the class but she called the instruments of the 5th graders this tiny screech plank slightly bigger screech plank normal size screech plank and bass this proves she is the best teacher