Upright bass, also called string bass or double bass, is a member of the orchestra family. Just as often, however, it appears in jazz, bluegrass, folk, and other genres. With a large hollow body and 4 thick strings, the tones produced by the upright bass are low and rich. The instrument is capable of long, expressive tones when played with a bow; and short, percussive tones when plucked with the strings. String bass is a dynamic and impressive instrument to play!
Although it is one of the biggest instruments in band or orchestra, they come in a variety of sizes to accommodate younger players.
If this is your first year in orchestra, you may need to check with your music director to see if upright bass is an option.
