What is "contrabass"

Contrabass \Con`tra*bass"\, n. (Mus.) The lowest stringed instrument of the violin family; the double bass; -- also applied to any instrument of the same deep range as the stringed double bass; as, the contrabass ophicleide; the contrabass tuba or bombardon.

n. 1 part or section one octave lower than bass. 2 double bass, string bass 3 person or musical instrument performing the contrabass part.

1. adj. pitched an octave below normal bass instrumental or vocal range; "contrabass or double-bass clarinet" [syn: double-bass]

2. n. largest and lowest member of the violin family [syn: bass fiddle, bass viol, bull fiddle, double bass, string bass]

Contrabass (from ) refers to a musical instrument of very low pitch—generally one octave below bass register instruments. 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 term "contrabass" is relative, usually denoting a very low-pitched instrument of its type, rather than one 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 often includes such instruments.