Bach used the violone in his cantatas . Eventually the violone was no longer used , and the double bass was used instead . In modern parlance , one usually tries to clarify the ` type ' of violone by adding a qualifier based on the tuning ( such as `` G violone '' or `` D violone '' ) or on geography ( such as `` Viennese violone '' ) , or by using other terms that have a more precise connotation ( such as `` bass violin '' or `` violoncello '' or `` bass viol '' ) .