The String Bass
String Bass
String Bass
• The String Bass is the largest and lowest member of the string
family
• It is also known as the Upright Bass, the Double Bass, and the
Contrabass
• The String Bass is used in a wide array of different genres.
Classical, folk, bluegrass, tango, jazz, rock, rockabilly,
psychobilly, country and pop to name a few
String Bass continued
It can be bowed similar to a cello, or plucked with the fingers to
produce sound
• Arco: Played with the bow
• Pizzicato: plucked by the fingers
• Slap: slapped and plucked with the hand in order to play fast
German and French Bows
• The String Bass can be played with two different styles of bow,
depending on the style of music
• French Bow
• German Bow
The String Quartet
• Besides playing as solo or section instruments, members of
the string family often play in small groups
• The typical string quartet is made up of two violins, a viola,
and a cello, although any combination of four string
instruments would still be called a quartet
• The String bass is rarely included in a quartet
The Octobass
• The Octobass is the largest string instrument, but nobody
plays it
• It takes two people to play, one to press down the strings and
one to pluck or bow
Octobass