Beginner Double Basses

We recommend looking at our Prelude, Arioso and Virtuoso range of basses as these are all excellent choices for the novice to intermediate student. Each instrument has its own unique sound, but all are professionally finished and set up by our expert team of instrument makers.

A lot of schools these days have an orchestral strings immersion program in grades 2 or 3 where all the students are involved and able to try orchestral string instruments. Most begin with violin and if the child shows interest allows them to branch out to different instruments. This is also the age that most schools allow students to start taking lessons and joining school ensembles. This is a great opportunity for your child to try out different instruments and find the right one for them. If your child is showing enthusiasm for wanting to learn an instrument, they can start at any age. Even from 3 - 6 months old there are a variety of entry level music classes that will introduce them to the basics of music and getting them involved in creating music. Your child can also start learning double bass at any age, our double bass sizes go down to 1/16 size! There are a variety of teaching methods designed for teaching children from a very young age such as the extremely well-known Suzuki method which was how some famous players learnt, such as Ray Chen who started the Suzuki method at age 4.

Our double bass outfits come with a bag and a bow included and to be able to play you will also need to purchase rosin. Rosin is necessary to be able to play your double bass. A rockstop/slipstop is also usually necessary to stop the endpin of the double bass sliding on the floor, but this would depend on whether the child will be learning on hardwood flooring, tiles, carpet etc. A lot of players will always use a stopper as this will also prevent the endpin (which is a sharp metal spike) from damaging flooring. We also recommend a music stand, a cleaning cloth, and a tuner. These items will make learning and maintaining the double bass a lot easier.

There are a vast number of benefits to learning the double bass and music as a whole. There have been noted mental, emotional and physical benefits to learning to double bass. From improved fine motor skills, learning discipline and improving memory to improved social skills from being involved in ensembles just to name a few.

Double bass players have the choice between two styles of bow, generally the majority of the bows (stick, hair etc.) is identical between the two with the biggest difference being between the frog and the bow hold used. The french style has a smaller frog and looks more like the bows you would use to play violin, viola and cello. The french style uses an "overhand" grip similar to the cello bow hold. The german style has a taller frog and utilises a more "underhand" grip.

One type of bow is not necessarily better than the other, it is more a matter of personal preference. Quite often the reason that players choose one over the other is purely because it is the style that their teacher uses and taught. It is also a case that the student may find one style more comfortable to learn. As they progress, most bass players in fact end up becoming capable at both bow styles as many state that they feel the french style allows for more "finesse" whereas the german style gives more "power".