The double bass, also called upright bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument. It is used in many genres, including classical orchestras, chamber music, jazz bands, and blues.

You can play the double bass in two main ways: with the bow (or the Italian, arco) or by plucking the strings (pizzicato). If you choose arco, you draw the bow across the strings, using controlled arm weight and bow speed to produce clear tones. With pizzicato, you pluck the string with a finger (often used in jazz or orchestral passages) and shift your left hand up and down the fingerboard to press different notes.

The double bass has a deep, rich, resonant tone. It is often the lowest-pitched string instrument in an ensemble. In orchestral or classical settings, it gives fullness to the harmony and supports the rhythm section. In jazz and smaller ensembles, its plucked tone is warm and rhythmic, often heard in walking bass lines.

Yes, bowing (arco) is one of the standard ways to play the double bass. When bowed, the strings' vibrations are transmitted through the bridge and soundpost to the body, producing a sustained, expressive tone.

No, a standard double bass is fretless. The lack of frets gives the player continuous control over intonation (pitch) and allows smooth slides and expressive bends.