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From: rchrd@well.UUCP (Richard Friedman)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: question on string bass
Message-ID: <226@well.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Oct-85 17:08:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: well.226
Posted: Thu Oct 17 17:08:37 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Oct-85 05:38:48 EDT
References: <21021@mgweed.UUCP>
Organization: Whole Earth Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 22

In article <21021@mgweed.UUCP>, rjr@mgweed.UUCP (Bob Roehrig) writes:
> 
> At a recent concert performed by the Chicago Symphony, I noticed that about
> half of the Bass instruments had an "attachment" on them. It was at the
> top of the bass, on one side. It looked like perhaps its purpose was to
> extend one of the strings (I assume to lower the frequency). It also looked
> like there might have been some "keys" on it. Does anyone know anything
> about this???
> 
> Bob

Normally, the lowest string on the Contrabass (string bass) is tuned
to E.  It is sometimes very necessary to have a low C on the instrument
and usually a fifth string attachment is added.  The physical limitations
of tuning properly to low C require keys to finger the string.

-- 
     
    [rchrd] = Richard Friedman
              Pacific-Sierra Research, 2855 Telegraph #415
              Berkeley, CA 94705 (415) 540 5216
    UUCP: {hplabs,ptsfa,dual}!well!rchrd