contrabass adj : pitched an octave below normal bass instrumental or vocal range; "contrabass or double-bass clarinet" [syn: double-bass] n : largest and lowest member of the violin family [syn: bass fiddle, bass viol, bull fiddle, double bass, string bass]

English

Pronunciation

• /ˈkɑn.tɹə.ˌbɛɪs/

Etymology

from Italian contra, against + basso, low

Noun

1. part or section one octave lower than bass.
2. person or instrument performing the contrabass part.

Related terms

• bass
• contra
• contrabassist
• subcontrabass

The term contrabass (derived from the Italian contrabbasso) refers to very low musical instruments; generally those pitched one octave below instruments of the bass register. While the term most commonly refers to the double bass (which is the bass instrument in the orchestral string family, tuned lower than the 'cello,), many other instruments in the contrabass register exist. The contrabass is one of the members of the woodwind instrument family.

The term "contrabass" is relative, usually denoting a very low-pitched instrument of its type rather than one playing in a particular range. For example, the contrabass flute's lowest note is approximately an octave higher than that of the contrabass clarinet. Instruments tuned below contrabass instruments, such as the double contrabass flute or subcontrabass saxophone, may be referred to as "double contrabass," "triple contrabass," "subcontrabass," or "octocontrabass" instruments. On the other hand, the "contrabass" classification is often taken to include such instruments as well.

Wind

Brass

• Contrabass bugle, a variant tuba used in drum and bugle corps
• Contrabass hélicon
• Contrabass sackbut
• Contrabass serpent
• Contrabass saxhorn in EE♭
• Contrabass saxhorn in BB♭
• Subcontrabass saxhorn in EEE♭
• Subcontrabass saxhorn in BBB♭
• Contrabass trombone, a fourth below the trombone
• Contrabass trumpet
• Subcontrabass tuba in BBB♭

Woodwind

• Contrabass clarinet, two octaves below the B♭ soprano clarinet
• Octocontra-alto clarinet, two octaves below the alto clarinet
• Octocontra-bass clarinet, three octaves below the B♭ soprano clarinet
• Contrabass flute, two octaves below the C concert flute
• Subcontrabass flute, two octaves below the alto flute
• Double contrabass flute, three octaves below the C concert flute
• Hyperbass flute, four octaves below the C concert flute
• Contrabass oboe, two octaves below the oboe
• Contrabass ocarina
• Great contrabass pommer
• Contrabass rackett
• Contrabass recorder, two octaves below the treble recorder
• Subcontrabass recorder, three octaves below the soprano recorder
• Sub-subcontrabass recorder, three octaves below the alto recorder
• Contrabass sarrusophone, range similar to the contrabass saxophone
• Contrabass saxophone, two octaves below the alto saxophone
• Subcontrabass saxophone, two octaves below the tenor saxophone
• Contrabass tin whistle
• Contrabass tubax, a saxophone-like instrument two octaves below the alto saxophone
• Subcontrabass tubax, two octaves below the tenor saxophone
• Contrabassoon, an octave below the bassoon
• Reed contrabass
• Contrabassophone
• Slide reed subcontrabass

Other

• Contrabass harmonica

String

Bowed

• Double bass, or contrabass violin
• Violone, a contrabass viol
• Octobass
• Triple contrabass viol
• Dalaruan, used in the modern Chinese orchestra
• Dadihu, used in the modern Chinese orchestra

Plucked

• Acoustic bass guitar
• Bass guitar
• Contrabass guitar
• Subcontrabass guitar
• Contrabass balalaika, a large triangular lute used in traditional Russian folk music
• Guitarrón, a Mexican acoustic bass guitar used in mariachi ensembles
• Chitarrone moderno, a plucked bass type designed around 1900 by Italian luthiers for use in a mandolin orchestra.

Notes

External links

• www.contrabass.com, the "Contrabass Mania" site dedicated to ridiculously low instruments of all kinds