contrabass
C2technical, musical
Definition
Meaning
The largest and lowest-pitched instrument of the violin family, also called double bass.
Can also refer to the lowest-pitched member of a family of musical instruments, such as the contrabass clarinet or contrabassoon.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In musical contexts, 'double bass' is a common synonym. 'Contrabass' is often used to distinguish specific low-pitched instruments (e.g., contrabass clarinet) or in more formal/technical writing about instruments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'double bass' is the predominant term for the orchestral string instrument. In the US, both 'double bass' and 'contrabass' are used, with 'double bass' being more common in jazz/popular contexts and 'contrabass' appearing in formal/orchestral and academic contexts.
Connotations
UK: 'Double bass' is neutral and standard. 'Contrabass' may sound more technical or European. US: 'Contrabass' can sound slightly more formal or precise than 'double bass'.
Frequency
The word is low-frequency in general English but standard within musical terminology. 'Double bass' is significantly more common in everyday speech in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the contrabass [of the orchestra]a [new/vintage] contrabassthe [sound/role] of the contrabassVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, organology, and orchestration texts to specify instrument types.
Everyday
Rare; 'double bass' is preferred.
Technical
Standard term in instrument naming (e.g., contrabass saxophone) and detailed musical scores or discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The contrabass line was beautifully resonant.
- He specialises in contrabass instruments.
American English
- The contrabass part requires a skilled player.
- She ordered a contrabass clarinet for the wind ensemble.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The orchestra has a new contrabass player.
- That is a very large musical instrument called a contrabass.
- The deep, rich sound of the contrabass anchors the entire string section.
- Besides the contrabass, he also plays the contrabassoon.
- The composer exploited the contrabass's subharmonic register to create a sense of impending doom.
- His thesis focused on the evolution of the contrabass clarinet in 20th-century chamber music.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CONTRA' (against/opposite) + 'BASS' (low). It's the instrument that plays 'against' or an octave below the regular bass line.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION (the contrabass provides the foundational, supporting bass line in an ensemble).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'контрабас' (kontrabas), which is a direct cognate and correct. However, note that the English term is less common in casual speech than 'double bass'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'contra-bass' or 'contra bass'. It is a single word or sometimes hyphenated ('contra-bass'), but the solid form is standard.
- Using 'contrabass' generically to mean any bass instrument instead of the specific largest/lowest member of a family.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'contrabass' most precisely used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For the large string instrument, they are the same thing. 'Double bass' is the common name, while 'contrabass' is a more formal/technical synonym, also used in compound names for other low instruments (e.g., contrabass clarinet).
Rarely. In jazz, blues, or rockabilly, musicians almost always say 'double bass', 'upright bass', or 'bass'. 'Contrabass' is chiefly a classical and academic term.
Yes, it frequently functions as an adjective modifying a noun for a specific instrument, e.g., 'contrabass trombone', 'contrabass part'.
Historically, it was seen as doubling the bass line (playing it an octave lower) of the cellos or other bass instruments, hence 'double' bass.