Why Learn the Double Bass?

Why Learn the Double Bass?

I have been teaching the double bass for many years and this is the first question I usually ask my pupils: “Why do you want to learn the double bass?”

The answers are many and varied and sometimes surprising. The most common are things like “I just love low sounds” or “It’s different, isn’t it?” or “I’ve always wanted to play the double bass”.  You may wonder why I learnt the double bass. Well, I was playing the tuba in a Jazz Band and the leader of the band said they didn’t want a Tuba player anymore; they wanted a double bass.  So I went out the next day and bought one! It cost me 20 quid! I turned up with it at the next week’s band rehearsal and that was it – I was a double bass player, but understandably after just a week not a very good one! So I started having lessons – my teacher sat me on a stool, put a bow in my hand and said “Read the dots!” (the music). I had no knowledge of Classical Music so all this was quite alien to me, but I persevered in learning, took my grades, studied at the Guildhall School of Music, played with orchestras, and thus became a professional musician and teacher.

But to return to: “Why learn the double bass?” There are lots of very good reasons so if you are thinking about it you could do worse than choose from one of the following:  firstly it makes a fantastic sound; anyone can just pluck the strings and it immediately fills the room with deep, strong, sonorous vibrations which you can feel as well as hear; secondly it is a very social instrument - it is at its best in a group or orchestra and in fact you’ll find one in nearly every kind of music from classical to jazz, from folk to pop. A third reason for learning the double bass is because it plays the most important role in a group of instruments. Lots of people say that they don’t notice it until it’s not there - then they really miss it! 

The double bass is regarded as the ‘foundation’ of the orchestra or group, on which everything else is built. It not only provides the root for the harmony but it is also often the anchor for the pulse and rhythm – what gives the band its swing and we all know that ‘it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!’ Another reason to learn the double bass is that as an instrument it is so versatile. It sounds just as good plucked or bowed, it can provide the backing or play the tune, and of all the string instruments it has the greatest range – if you include its harmonics it spans over five octaves!

But apart from the above, I think maybe the real answer to ‘Why learn the double bass?” is quite simply because of all the instruments “Bass is Beautiful, Bass is Best”! And what’s more, it’s great fun!