If you are ordering one of the following works for performance:

Proto: A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra
Proto: Concerto No. 2 for Double Bass and Orchestra
Proto: Concerto No. 3 for Double Bass and Orchestra
Proto: (Four Scenes After Picasso)
Proto: Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra
Proto: Nine Variants on Paganini for Double Bass and Orchestra

We need to know if your soloist will use Orchestra Tuning or Solo Tuning. *

If you are not ordering one of the above works please enter "N.A." or "does not apply" in the Solo or Orchestra Tuning field.

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* A mini-primer on double bass tunings for librarians and other interested parties.

The Double Bass has suffered a host of different tunings over the past 300 years. For the past 100 years or so two tunings have remained in constant use

1: Orchestra Tuning. E, A, D, G (from lowest to highest). This is the main, or standard tuning for all orchestral music, most chamber music and just about any kind of popular, jazz or ethnic music. Notes written below E – down to a low C or B – are usually handled either by a fifth string, a mechanical device – commonly referred to as a machine by bassists, or a wooden fingerboard extension.

2: Solo Tuning. F sharp, B, E, A (from lowest to highest). This tuning is often used by soloists when performing solo works – concertos, etc. - especially with orchestra. It usually helps the solo bass to achieve a brighter, more penetrating sound especially in the upper registers.

A simpler way to think of this is:

Orchestra Tuning = Solo double bass in the key of C.
Solo Tuning = Solo double bass in the key of D

Of course nothing is quite this simple, especially in the area of solo double bass music. There is much debate – sometimes feuding would be a more accurate term – in the bass community about the virtues of solo and orchestra tuning. It is not the purpose of this little explanation to get into that discussion. We'll just say that both tunings are used for solo playing and in order for us to ship the correct set of parts to you we'll have to know which tuning your soloist would like to use.

If you are in doubt, the best person to ask is your soloist. Some conductors are familiar with double bass tunings but most have never had to think about it. So save yourself some time and go straight to the source.

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