Who Invented the Double Bass?

Written by

Kara Rogers

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

No single person invented the double bass. Instead, it emerged gradually between the 16th and 18th centuries through the work of various European instrument makers. Influenced by both the violin and viol families, the double bass (also known as the upright or string bass) evolved in response to a desire for deeper, more powerful sounds. Today towering above other string instruments and producing the deepest tones in the orchestra, the double bass serves as the...