On this page, students can learn more about the double bass and also how to read and write music for the double bass
The music theory for double bass students on this page correlates with the Flipped Strings Double Bass Book 1 and the Flipped Strings Double Bass Apple iBook 1 with embedded media.
Navigating this page
Click on the topic you wish to view to go to that section of this page. Teachers, you can show the videos to your class and print as many of the PDF worksheets as you wish. Students, you can work through each of the lessons, print and complete the worksheets and then play each of the exercises on your instrument, so you better understand how not only how to write music for your instrument but also how to play what you have written. This might even lead you to compose and perform your own music.
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- About the Double Bass
- The Bass Clef
- What Are Open Strings
- 1. Writing & Reading Basic Note Values on Open Strings
- 2. Writing & Reading Rests
- 3. Writing & Reading Rhythm in Different Time Signs
- 4. Writing & Reading Rhythms – Barlines
- 5. Sharps – Raising Notes a Semitone
- 6. Writing & Reading Notes Using 1st Finger
- 7. Writing & Reading Notes Using 2nd Finger
- 8. Writing & Reading Notes Using 4th Finger
- 9. Writing & Reading D Major Scale & Arpeggio
About the Double Bass
The Double Bass is the lowest sounding of the orchestral stringed instruments. The open strings are tuned 4 notes apart – see below.
The double bass is different to the other 3 stringed instruments in that it is tuned in 4ths rather than 5ths. In other words, there is a space of 4 notes between the strings rather than 5 notes, as with the violin. (see below)
The double bass can be bowed or plucked and is used in the orchestra and string orchestra to play the bass line of a piece of music; giving it a much fuller richer tone.
The double bass is also used in Jazz and Folk music and is more often plucked in those styles and plays the notes from the chord progression.
The double bass reads the bass clef like the cello but the notes of the double bass sound an octave lower than written. This is because the notes would otherwise have too many ledger lines. This way it is much easier to read.
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The Bass Clef
Notes on the bass clef lines
Click here to learn more about ledger lines
Notes on the bass clef spaces
What Are Open Strings?
The very first thing we must learn about the double bass is the open strings. What is meant by “Open Strings?”
An open string on any stringed instrument is when you draw the bow across the string without placing a finger on fingerboard to change the pitch. There are 4 strings on the double bass – therefore there are 4 definite fixed pitches that we can play on the double bass without having to use the fingers in our left hand.
Here is the video from the Flipped Strings Level One iBook – double bass, showing how we bow crotchets on the open strings of the double bass.
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1. Writing & Reading Basic Note Values on Open Strings
Click Here to Revise Note Values
Reading and Writing Semibreves or Whole Notes
Reading and Writing Minims or Half Notes
Reading and Writing Crotchets or Quarter Notes
Reading and Writing Quavers or Eighth Notes
Reading and Writing Dotted Minims or Dotted Half Notes
Free Download – Worksheet # 1 Open Strings
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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2. Writing & Reading Rests
Writing & Reading Rhythms using minim or half note rests
Writing & Reading Rhythms using crotchet or quarter note rests
Writing & Reading Rhythms using quaver or eighth note rests
Writing & Reading Rhythms using a mixture of rests and notes
Free Download – Worksheet # 2 Rests
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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3. Writing & Reading Rhythm in Different Time Signs
Writing & Reading Rhythms in 4-4 time
Writing & Reading Rhythms in 3-4 time
Writing & Reading Rhythms in 2-4 time
Free Download – Worksheet # 3 Time Signatures
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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4. Writing & Reading Rhythm – Barlines
Placing Barlines in 4-4 time
Placing Barlines in 3-4 time
Placing Barlines in 2-4 time
Free Download – Worksheet # 4 Barlines
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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5. Sharps – Raising notes a semitone
Watch the video showing how sharps raise a note by a semitone
Watch the video showing how we use sharps in a 4-4 bar
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6. Writing & Reading Notes Using 1st Finger
Writing & Reading the 1st Finger on G String
Writing & Reading the 1st Finger on D String
Writing & Reading the 1st Finger on A String
Writing & Reading the 1st Finger on E String
Free Download – Worksheet # 6 1st Finger
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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7. Writing & Reading Notes Using 2nd Finger
Writing & Reading the 2nd Finger on G String
Writing & Reading the 2nd Finger on D String
Writing & Reading the 2nd Finger on A String
Writing & Reading the 2nd Finger on E String
Free Download – Worksheet # 7 2nd Finger
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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8. Writing & Reading Notes Using 4th Finger
Writing & Reading the 4th Finger on G String
Writing & Reading the 4th Finger on D String
Writing & Reading the 4th Finger on A String
Writing & Reading the 4th Finger on E String
Free Download – Worksheet # 8 4th Finger
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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9. Writing & Reading D Major Scale & Arpeggio
Writing & Reading D Major Scale
Writing & Reading D Major Arpeggio
Free Download – Worksheet # 9 D Major Scale & Arpeggio
Teachers, you can download these free worksheets and print as many copies for your students as you wish.
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