The University Museum

BASS FIDDLE

One of the largest of the stringed instruments, the low tones of the bass fiddle (also known as the double bass or simply as the bass) provide the foundation for the tunes of many musical genres. In folk music performances, the strings of the bass are often plucked with the fingers, providing a rhythmic harmony line. However, in slower or more lyrical works, the bass offers a smoother accompaniment when it is bowed.

Kamien, Roger 1988. Music: An Appreciation. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.