contrabasfamilie

The contrabasfamilie refers to the family of low-pitched string instruments associated with the double bass. In most contexts it denotes the double bass itself, the largest and lowest-pitched member of the violin family, and a foundational instrument in classical and contemporary music. Historically, bass-viol traditions contributed to its development, with early bass instruments such as the violone influencing design and tuning in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century. The modern double bass emerged in the 18th century with standardized four-string construction and tuning in fourths.

A typical double bass has a carved spruce top, a maple back and ribs, a carved neck, and an adjustable endpin. It commonly carries four strings, though five-string variants with a low B or C extension are used by some players. The strings are usually tuned in fourths to E1–A1–D2–G2, providing a broad, deep low range. The instrument can be played with a bow (arco) or plucked (pizzicato), and it is widely used in orchestras, chamber music, jazz, and contemporary performances. Notation for the double bass is generally written one octave higher than it sounds, to fit within the bass staff and the range of other string parts.

The contrabasfamilie thus encompasses the modern double bass and its historical predecessors, sharing a common role as the foundation of low-end harmony and rhythm in diverse musical settings.